Racers Suffer First Loss of 2009-10 Campaign to Georgia State

Friday, November 27

Atlanta, Ga.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Georgia State

Racers Suffer First Loss of 2009-10 Campaign to Georgia State

11/27/2009 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

The Murray State women's basketball team finished a game behind on the scoreboard for the first time during the 2009-10 campaign, with its 87-72 loss to Georgia State in the first game of the GSU Thanksgiving Tournament.

The Racers (4-1) were led by sophomore Mallory Schwab, who tallied 15 points and four rebounds. Schwab was one of four players in double digits for MSU, with freshman Mariah Robinson adding 13 and sophomores Rachael Isom and Kristen Kluempers contributing 12 and 10, respectively.

The Panthers opened the first half with tough defense, holding the Racers scoreless for almost the first two minutes of the game while tallying six of their own. GSU continued the pressure and was up 10-2 at the first media time out (17:09 left). MSU had trouble holding onto the ball in the first few minutes of the game, recording four of the nine team turnovers in the half during the span. The Panthers were also strong on the boards, recording several of their 16 first-half offensive rebounds.

The Racers did not give up and cut the lead to two points over the next four minutes with an 8-2 run. GSU responded with a 5-0 run of its own to regain the lead. That is how the majority of the rest of the first half went, the Panthers would gain a lead and MSU would cut the lead to one. That is until there was 6:30 left to play. GSU was up 27-22 and it was the Racers turn to go on a run, but this time MSU didn't just get within one. The Racers used a 10-2 run over the next four minutes to tie the game and take their first lead, 32-27.

The teams then traded baskets for the remainder of the half, but MSU held onto its advantage and took a 39-33 lead into the locker room.

The Panthers came out of the locker room ready to fight and quickly cut the deficit to one point (43-42) in the first two minutes of action in the second half. GSU kept pushing the tempo of the game and regained the lead four minutes into the second stanza. The Panthers built the lead out to as many as 10 points, holding the Racers scoreless for several periods of time through the half.

With just over 10 minutes left to play, MSU got back in the offensive mood and held the Panthers without a field goal for the next five minutes. The Racers went on a 10-2 run during the span, with GSU's only points coming at the free throw line. That cut the deficit to two points, 66-64. MSU continued the push and tied the game at 68 with 4:35 remaining.

That was as close as the Racers would get to the lead at the end of the game as the Panthers pushed the lead back out to four, with just over two minutes remaining. MSU then struggled to make its shots the rest of the half and GSU made key free-throw attempts down the stretch to earn the 87-72 win.

Rebounding was the key to the outcome of the game as the Panthers earned a 44-31 advantage on the boards, including a 21-8 mark on the offensive side. MSU had a strong shooting day despite the loss, hitting 45.1 percent of its shots from the field and 30.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Racers held GSU to a 38.7 field-goal shooting percentage and a 26.1 mark from three-point range.

“They out-rebounded us by 13 on the offensive boards and that is the only thing that I am disappointed about from this game,” said head coach Rob Cross. “When you look at the stat sheet we should have won except for that one glaring deficit and that cost us the game.”

The Racers will face either Troy or Morgan State tomorrow in the consolation game of the Georgia State Thanksgiving Tournament at 1 p.m. (CST).

Notes: Mallory Schwab garnered career highs for field goals made (6)... Rachael Isom set a new career best with her eight free throws made.

Quotes
Head Coach Rob Cross
“Georgia State is a tough team. They lost a close game to No. 10 Florida State recently and I think that we battled with them.”

“They made key free throws toward the end of the game after they got a little separation. We lost our composure a little bit late in the game because of the foul situation.”

“We have another game in 24 hours so it won't be too long for us to get over this loss. We played hard today and I think this team will be ready to battle again tomorrow.”