Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Lady Racers battle Tech, but late TTU run decides game
2/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State Lady Racers kept pace with Tennessee Tech for most of their game tonight, taking a 34-33 halftime lead and taking leads off-and-on throughout the second half, but a 15-2 run by the Golden Eaglettes late in the game decided it for TTU. MSU was able to make it close, but not good enough to win it the 85-78 Ohio Valley Conference loss.
Murray State (8-14, 4-7 OVC) took a 64-63 when sophomore guard Gerraca Matthews hit a lay-up with 7:23 left in regulation, but Tennessee Tech (16-6, 9-2 OVC) scored 15 of the next 17 points, including the last nine straight.
Eight points in that run came from Emily Christian, the OVCÂ Pre-Season Player of the Year, who finished with 37 points, five rebounds and a game-high three steals. Christian was 15-for-23 from the field and hit seven of her 11 free-throw attempts.
After Tech took a 78-66 lead with 2:37 left, Murray State scored the next seven points on a jumper by Matthews, a three-pointer by junior forward Jessie Hirsch and a jumpshot by freshman guard Shaleea Petty to get to within 78-73, but would get no closer.
Murray State was led by sophomore guard Ashley Hayes, who went 6-for-12 behind the arc and 20 points. Petty added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while senior guard Rebecca Remington put in 11 and had a team-high five assists.
Matthews had a co-game-high seven rebounds, while senior forward Kaleena Miller had six. Junior guard Jill Fulkerson had four assists, while freshman guard Alaina Lee had a team-high two steals.
For Tennessee Tech, Kendall Cavin scored 22 points with a 6-for-6 night from the line to go with seven assists. Tynisha Alexander had seven rebounds and eight rebounds.
"It was disappointing," said MSUÂ head coach Joi Felton. "I am pleased with the way we played at times, and with Ashley Hayes' shooting, but we had to play a full 40 minutes to beat a team like Tennessee Tech."
Murray State hosts Austin Peay on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. following the men's game.
