Racers Winning Streak Snapped at 11 with 51-69 Loss at Southeast Missouri State

Thursday, February 19

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

7 p.m.

Murray State

Southeast Missouri State

Racers Winning Streak Snapped at 11 with 51-69 Loss at Southeast Missouri State

2/19/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

The Murray State women's basketball team had its 11-game winning streak snapped by Southeast Missouri State with a 51-69 loss in Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Redhawks (14-12, 9-6 Ohio Valley Conference) got some revenge after the Racers (17-7, 12-2 OVC) broke SEMO's 16-game OVC road winning streak earlier this season at the Regional Special Events Center.

Senior Ashley Hayes recorded her third-straight double-double (11^th on the season) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Amber Guffey and Paige Guffey also garnered more than 10 points, with 18 and 13 respectively.

Murray State struggled with scoring in the game, recording a shooting percentage below 35 percent for just the fourth time this season. Rebounding also seemed to be a key in the game, as the Redhawks earned a 46-37 advantage, including a 17-9 mark on the offensive side.

“We just didn't play good basketball tonight,” said head coach Rob Cross. “I think our effort was not very good on the boards tonight and you can't go on the road and expect to win if you let a team out-tough you.”

Sonya Daugherty was the key offensive threat for SEMO as she tallied 31 points, with 22 coming in the first half of action.

Despite earning the first points of the game the Racers struggled in the first half to score, shooting a season-low 25 percent from the field and 11.1 percent from beyond the arc. The start of the game seemed promising as Murray State opened the first 2:30 with a 7-3 run before SEMO converted a three-point play to pull the score within one point.

Both teams then stepped up the defense holding each other scoreless for the next 2:30. The Redhawks broke the scoreless streak first to go up by one with 15:02 left in the half. The Racers continued to have problems finding the net and were held without a field goal until 10:44. SEMO went on a 10-4 run during the span, with all of Murray State's points coming at the charity stripe.

The Redhawks then pushed farther ahead with a 13-0 run to take a 16-point advantage with just over four minutes left in the half. The Racers tried to close the gap over the final four minutes in the stanza, scoring seven points but a buzzer beater by SEMO gave the Redhawks a 36-22 advantage heading into the locker room.

The offensive draught continued for Murray State in the second half as they were held without a field goal until Paige Guffey sank a three with 16:49 left. SEMO tallied four points during the span to increase its lead to 18. The Redhawks pushed their lead out to 20 with just over 14 minutes left to play before the Racers tried to mount a comeback, but they could get no closer than 14 points the rest of the game.

Foul trouble plagued Murray State during the game, with the team committing an uncharacteristic 18 fouls to SEMO's 12. The Racers also had trouble holding onto the ball, committing 21 turnovers.

“The great thing about this game is that we wake up tomorrow morning and we have a game in 48 hours that will help us get this game out of our system,” Cross said. “We still control our own destiny in the conference and we have to be ready to play Eastern Illinois Saturday.”

Murray State will now refocus as they head to Charleston, Ill., to face an Eastern Illinois team that is now tied for first with the Racers in the conference standings. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Lantz Arena.

Notes: The 14-point deficit at the half tied the largest for the Racers this season and marked the largest deficit in conference play...Murray State went 10-for-10 from the charity stripe... Jessica Jackson tallied a career-high two blocks.

Quotes

Head Coach Rob Cross

“Some shots didn't go in tonight that normally go in and they out-hustled us, which wasn't a good recipe for success for tonight.”

“Sonya Daugherty is a very good player and she played better than I have seen her play. We didn't do a good job guarding her like we were able to do at our place earlier this year.”