Murray State
Tennessee State
Missed shots from free-throw line, three-point range do in Lady Racers
2/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Despite making an 18-0 run late in the first half, the Murray State Lady Racers were done in by poor shooting from the free-throw line in the first period and from behind the arc in their 62-57 loss at Tennessee State tonight in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Murray State (9-16, 5-9 OVC) trailed 20-10 with 9:20 left in the first half before taking off on a run, scoring the next 18 points and taking a 28-20 lead with 4:15 left.
Sophomore guard Gerraca Matthews scored the first two points of the game from the free-throw line, but the Lady Racers missed on their next 10 shots from the line in the first period, but took a 30-28 halftime lead.
Tennessee State (8-16, 5-8 OVC) scored the first five points of the second half. MSU was able to tie the game four times, but was unable to get past the Lady Tigers for the rest of the game.
"It was very disappointing," said MSU head coach Joi Felton. "I felt like, coming in, we had a very good chance against Tennessee State. Our free-throw shooting was not good at all; I don't know what that was all about, but we'll get in the gym and work on it."
Murray State was led by sophomore guard Ashley Hayes, who picked up her second career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Shaleea Petty added 10 points and nine rebounds, and had team-highs with five assists and three steals.
Tennessee State was paced by Leslie Dean's 18 points to go with seven rebounds. LaKisha Clay added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals, while Quanecia Fletcher had 10 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists and five steals.
Murray State has a week off before visiting OVC leader Southeast Missouri State on Thursday at 5 p.m.
