Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Tennessee State
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Lady Racers use two first-half runs to power past Tennessee State
1/5/2006 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State set arena records in scoring (96), first-half scoring (48) and baskets (35).
Tennessee State (0-10, 0-4 OVC) led 4-2 early in the game before MSU went on an 8-0 run to get out to a 10-4 lead. The Lady Tigers cut that lead to two points and trailed 10-8 when the Lady Racers (4-9, 3-3 OVC) went on a 10-0 run to push out to a 20-8 lead with 11:49 left in the first period.
Murray State led 24-13 midway through the first half before launching another run, an 11-0 spurt that vaulted the Lady Racers out to a 34-13 lead four minutes later. TSU would get no closer.
Junior forward Joi Scott -- who had game-highs with 21 points and 12 rebounds -- had 10 points and seven rebounds at the half. Freshman guard Ashley Nichole Hayes came off the bench to add 16 points, six rebounds, a co-game-high four assists and a game-high two blocked shots. Freshman guard Amber Guffey put in 12 points. Junior guard Ashley Brooke Hayes scored 11 points, all in the first half.
Sophomore guard Alaina Lee handed out four assists, while Scott and junior forward Gerraca Matthews each had three. Senior forward Jessie Hirsch swiped a game-high three steals for Murray State.
Tennessee State was led by Obiageli Okafor and Leslie Dean, who had 14 points apiece. Jamika Banks grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Angela Vance had five. Kendra Appling handed out a co-game-high four assists, while Quanecia Fletcher had three.
With the win, Murray State moved to within 1-1/2 games of first place, as previously undefeated Samford fell at Tennessee-Martin to create a three-way tie for first place with Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois at 4-1 in OVC play.
Murray State hosts Southeast Missouri State on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. The Redhawks (6-7, 3-3 OVC) are tied with the Lady Racers after losing at Eastern Illinois 70-61 tonight.
