Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
High Point
Lady Racers fall to High Point in opening round of MU Classic
11/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State Lady Racers opened their 2003-04 campaign with a disappointing 67-56 loss to High Point in the first round of the Fifth Third Bank MU Classic at Huntington, W.Va., this afternoon.
The Lady Racers (0-1) led 26-24 at halftime, using a 5-0 run to move from a 9-8 deficit with 13:45 remaining in the first half to a 13-9 lead with 12:57 left in the period. MSU was able to hold the lead for most of the half, never allowing High Point (1-0) more than a single-point lead after that point.
The Panthers scored the first seven points of the second half to kick off a 12-2 run, taking a 36-28 lead with 16:55 left in regulation, but the Lady Racers forged back, scoring the next seven points on a three layups and a free throw by senior guard Stacy Holmes to pull to within 36-35 with 15:16 left.
MSU could get no closer, as High Point took command following a 5-0 run midway through the second half.
"It was disappointing," said MSU first-year coach Joi Williams of her head coaching debut. "We didn't play with a lot of effort. Our transition defense was poor and lacked the energy that we showed in our exhibition game.
"We want to come out tomorrow and show people that we are a better team and make a better effort."
MSU was led by Holmes, who put in 10 points. Sophomore center Lori Trumblee added eight point with a game-high two blocked shots and a team-high two steals.
Holmes, Trumblee and senior guard Jenny Bowden had a team-high five rebounds each. Murray State out-rebounded High Point 36-33. Junior guard Brittany Park had a co-game-high four assists for MSU.
High Point was led by 20 points from Candyce Sellars. Katie O'Dell added 11 points and Emily Mills put in 10. Kate Jenner had a game-high six rebounds for the Panthers.
Sellars, O'Dell and Katie Ralls had four assists each, while Sellars had a game-high three steals.
Murray State will play Morgan State tomorrow at noon. The game will be available online through the Lady Racer Web site at GoRacers.com on the schedule page.
RECORD UPDATE: With her one three-point basket today, junior guard Brittany Park moved into sole possession of third place on the Murray State career three-pointers list with 95 treys. Jennifer Parker (1990-94) is second on the list with 111...Park also moved into fifth place on the MSU career three-point attempts list with two shots from behind the arc today, now at 276 attempted threes. Julie Pinson (1988-92) is fourth at 277, while Bobbi Coltharp (1996-99) is third at 282...With two blocked shots today, sophomore center Lori Trumblee is now three blocks behind 10th-place Michelle Wenning (1987-91). Trumblee now has 33 career blocked shots...Senior guard Megan Fuqua is in sole possession of 11th place on the MSU career three-point field goals list. Now at 62 career threes, Fuqua is one trey behind 10th-place Beth Schnakenberg (2001-03) .
