Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Tech Pulls Out 54-49 Win Over Lady Racers
1/25/2007 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Tennessee Tech's inspired defense and Murray State's uninspired play converged on TTU's Eblen Center, and the host Golden Eagles claimed the 54-49 win in Ohio Valley Conference play.
Tech (6-14, 5-6 OVC) crashed the boards early and often, out-rebounding Murray State (12-5, 8-2 OVC) 24-13 in the first half and 47-31 in the game, claiming 16 second-chance points to the Lady Racers' two. The Tennessee Tech defense held MSU to 22.2-percent (6-for-27) shooting in the second half, holding the Lady Racers without a basket over a 10:37 period in the second half.
What makes Tennessee Tech's play doubly strange is that the Golden Eagles rank last in the OVC in both opponent field-goal percentage and in rebounds per game. TTU ranked second in the league in free-throw percentage -- 28th in the nation -- but only went 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) from the line tonight.
Tennessee Tech opened the game with a 7-2 lead, but Murray State scored the next seven points to take a 9-7 advantage. MSU then pushed out to a 15-10 lead, but the Golden Eagles came back to take a 25-22 lead of its own. Finally, the Lady Racers got out to a 30-26 lead and held that margin, taking a 34-30 lead at halfime.
Tennessee Tech scored 11 points in the first half on uncontested shots, as Cara Reed hit three three-pointers and Meagan Lyons drove in for a layup without any MSU defense to hinder them.
In the second half, Murray State jumped out to a 42-35 lead and was ahead 45-39 when senior forward Erica Gordian hit a three with 12:04 remaining in regulation. For the next 10:37, MSU would not his a basket, scoring only two free throws from senior forward Joi Scott, as Tennessee Tech went on a 14-2 run to take a 53-47 lead with 1:27 remaining.
Finally, sophomore guard Paig Guffey hit a layup to pull the Lady Racers to within four points, 53-49, with 50 seconds remaining. Tech held the ball for the next 15 seconds before Murray State fouled Allison Price, who missed the front end of bonus free throws. Murray State got the rebound and put up a shot, but it missed and Price rebounded for TTU. She was fouled again with 20 seconds left and again missed the front end of a one-and-one. MSU got the rebound and put up a shot, but it missed again, and Lyons got the rebound and was fouled with three seconds left. She hit one of two free throws for the final score.
Murray State was held to a season-low 15 points in the second half.
"It was very disappointing," said MSU head coach Joi Felton. "We talk about rebounding every night, especially on the road. Tennessee Tech out-hustled us; that's the bottom line. We knew coming in that Tech did all the little things, and they did them tonight, and we didn't respond."
Scott had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Murray State. She was 7-for-14 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line, grabbing nine defensive rebounds. She also had a game-high two blocked shots.
Junior guard Shaleea Petty had game-highs with five assists and four steals.
Tennessee Tech was paced by Kendall Cavin, who got 14of her 16 points in the second half. Cara Reed finished with 13 points, all of which came in the first half, to go with 10 rebounds. Kristina Tyler had a co-game-high 12 rebounds, while Lyons had a team-high three assists.
Murray State travels to Southeast Missouri State (13-6, 8-3 OVC) for a game on Saturday at 5 p.m. That game can be heard locally on WNBS (1340 AM, Murray) or worldwide through the audio link at www.GoRacers.com. Video streaming is available through www.OVCsports.TV.
