Late Rally Over Eastern Illinois Pushes Racer Into First-Place in the OVC

Thursday, January 22

RSEC

5:15 p.m.

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

Late Rally Over Eastern Illinois Pushes Racer Into First-Place in the OVC

1/23/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

The Murray State women's basketball team had another all-around effort that left them as the top team in the Ohio Valley Conference, when they defeated Eastern Illinois, 60-51, at the Regional Special Events Center.

“This game lived up to its billing,” said head coach Rob Cross. “It is a great win, but this is just one game in a long conference season. It is great to be in first place and to beat a team that is one of the top two or three in your conference.”

The Racers (12-6, 7-1 OVC) saw double-digit scoring from three players. Senior Ashley Hayes led the team with 16 points, while junior Mallory Luckett set a career best with 14 and senior Angela Mullins tied a season high with 12. Hayes also tied a career high with five steals.

“I am excited about the play that we saw tonight from Ashley Hayes and Angela Mullins. Ashley's hustle was huge for us,” said Cross. “She made some great plays by taking a chance and that is how I want our team to play. You have to be ready to step up, make big plays, and accept the consequences.”

The opening half of play proved why both teams came into the game tied for first in the OVC standings. Both teams held each other scoreless for the first two minutes of the game, with the Racers earning the first points from Mullins with 17:40 left in the half. The lead was brief for Murray State as the Panthers (12-7, 6-2 OVC) scored 20 seconds later on their next possession. EIU then earned the next shot and held onto either a two-point advantage or the score was tied until 12:15 remained in the half.

With just over 12 minutes left to play in the opening stanza the Panthers extended their lead by starting a 5-0 run over a 3:15 span. The game remained close for the next three minutes before the Racers went on a 5-0 run of their own to tie the game at 18. The run was sparked by Hayes who stripped the ball from Megan Edwards at the top of the key and ran the length of the court hit the lay-up and drew the foul.

Again the game was a back-and-forth battle before Murray State took control of the game with a 7-0 run over a minute span (3:50-2:50). Senior Amber Guffey and Hayes started the run when Amber Guffey made a no-look pass at the top of the key to Hayes for a three-pointer. The run gave the Racers a 25-20 advantage. EIU took a one-point advantage over the next two minutes with a 6-0 run, but Murray State ended the final 40 seconds of the half with five unanswered points. The run gave the Racers a 30-26 lead heading into the locker room.

Murray State continued their offensive run in the second half, scoring the first four points before allowing the Panthers to get a basket with 17:30 left in the game. EIU kept fighting through the half, and started a 5-0 run with just under 15 minutes to play to drop the advantage to five points (36-33). The Panthers got the lead down to two points with 9:10 remaining in the half. Both teams then stepped up the defensive pressure and held each other scoreless for almost two minutes.

When the scoring resumed EIU went on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 43. The Panthers kept the defensive pressure on Murray State and kept them from recording any more points until 6:40 remained in the game. Mullins then started a 9-0 run, by scoring the first four points herself, over a three minute span to give the Racers the lead for good. Murray State extended their lead to as many as 13 points in the final minutes of the game, before ending with the 60-51 victory.

Both teams shot well below their season averages, with the Racers earning a slight advantage. Murray State hit 36.7 percent (22-of-60) of its shots, while the Panthers saw 21 of their 59 attempts (35.6%) fall. The key factor to the Racers' win was ball control. EIU committed 19 turnovers, including 15 in the second half. Murray State took advantage of the Panthers turnovers, scoring 22 of its points off the infractions.

“What I am most proud of tonight is holding Eastern Illinois to 35 percent from the field,” Cross added. “There was a lot of talk about how we are not a very good defensive team and that certainly may be the case is some games, but tonight we focused and got the job done.”

Murray State will now prepare for a game against Southeast Missouri State, Saturday, Jan. 24. Tip-of is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. at the RSEC.

Notes: This was the first time since Feb. 25, 2006 that Amber Guffey failed to record a point in the first half...the last time was at home against UT Martin during her freshman campaign...the Racers were out-rebounded for the 11^th time this season...Murray State is now 7-4 when pulling down less rebounds than its opponents.

Quotes

Head Coach Rob Cross

“Both teams did some things defensively to slow things down and I think what we both did worked.”

Senior Ashley Hayes

“It is not about how many points you score individually. It is about getting everyone on the team involved like we did tonight.”