Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Free Throws In Final Ticks Tax Tech As Lady Racers Win 80-79 In OT
2/22/2007 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State trailed visiting Tennessee Tech by seven points, 67-60, with 46 seconds remaining in regulation and closed out on a 9-2 run to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, sophomore forward Ashley Nichole Hayes scored seven of MSU's 11 points to push the Lady Racers to an 80-79 overtime win.
The win kept Murray State in a tie for first place with Southeast Missouri State (20-7, 15-4 OVC), which won at Samford on Thursday.
In the last 46 seconds of regulation, junior guard Alaina Lee hit a layup and sophomore guard Amber Guffey hit two free throws to close the gap to 67-64. Tech's Blair Bowens made one of two free throws, but a layup by junior guard Shaleea Petty brought it back to 68-66 with 25 seconds left. Bowens hit another free throw with 22 seconds left, and Petty knocked down a three with 13 seconds to go to send the game to overtime. Neither team got a shot off down the stretch, each committing a turnover in the final seconds.
In overtime, Cara Reed of Tennessee Tech (12-17, 11-9 OVC) hit two free throws, then made one of two shots before Kristina Tyler made one of two to push the Golden Eagles out to a 73-69 lead with 3:50 left in overtime. Hayes popped a three to pull Murray State to within one, then sophomore guard Paige Guffey made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 2:36 remaining.
Meagan Lyons hit a layup to put TTU ahead by one, but Hayes hit a jumper to give MSU the lead back. Kendall Cavin hit back-to-back baskets to put the Golden Eagles ahead 79-76 with a minute left, but Paige Guffey hit two free throws with 39 seconds left to pull the Lady Racers to within 79-78.
Hayes grabbed a missed shot and was fouled with 13 seconds left. She hit the tying free throw, and TTU called a timeout. Hayes stepped up and made the go-ahead free throw to give MSU an 80-79 lead. Tennessee Tech came downcourt and Bowens put up a shot, but it missed, and Petty came away with the rebound, sealing the game for Murray State (19-7, 15-4 OVC).
"This was a team victory," said MSU head coach Joi Felton. "Wins like this are more important than winning by 20. Tennessee Tech came in here with a good game plan and shot well. We had no answer for them, especially in the first half. I give credit to our team for hanging in there and refusing to lose."
Hayes finished with 19 points, going 4-for-4 from the line, and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds (nine on the defensive end), marking her fourth double-double of the season and her 11th game of the season with nine or more rebounds. Hayes also had a team-high two steals.
Scott also had 19 points, going 7-for-8 from the line, and grabbed eight rebounds. Petty put in 18 points and had six rebounds to go with a team-high two blocked shots.
Amber Guffey handed out a team-high four assists, while Lee had three assists. Hayes and Amber and Paige Guffey each went 4-for-4 from the line to help MSU to a 24-for-28 night from the stripe. Tennessee Tech made 12 of its 21 free-throw attempts.
Tennessee Tech was led by Cavin, who had a game-high 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting from the field to go with four rebounds, three assists and a game-high three steals. Tyler added 14 points and had a team-high nine rebounds (all defensive) to go with four assists and a game-high four blocked shots. Reed and Lyons each had 12 points for Tech. Bowens had six rebounds and a game-high six assists, while Lyons had five rebounds.
Murray State honored three seniors playing their final regular-season games in the Regional Special Events Center: Scott, Erica Gordian and Ashley Brooke Hayes. The team also honored senior manager Justin Campbell.
The Lady Racers will close out their regular-season schedule on Saturday with a game at Tennessee-Martin. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
