Racers Clinch First OVC Regular-Season Title with 75-71 Victory over Morehead State

Thursday, February 26

RSEC

5:15 p.m.

Murray State

Morehead State

Racers Clinch First OVC Regular-Season Title with 75-71 Victory over Morehead State

2/26/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

Four players tallied double-digits to help the Murray State women's basketball team clinch at least a share of the 2008-09 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title with its victory over Morehead State, 75-71. The title is the first regular-season championship for the Racers (20-7, 15-2 OVC) and the second championship in two seasons after earning the OVC Tournament Championship in 2007-08.

“I am thrilled to get the victory tonight,” said head coach Rob Cross. “We set our team goals at the beginning of the season and we accomplished two of those goals tonight. We have a 20-win season and we earned the team's first OVC regular-season title.”

Murray State used a 51-36 advantage in the second half to erase an 11-point half-time deficit to earn its 17^th-straight home victory. Senior Paige Guffey had a team-best 21 points, while Amber Guffey added 20, Ashley Hayes netted 18, and freshman Kayla Lowe hit a career-high 10 points.

In the beginning of the first half it looked like the Racers were on task, scoring on their first possession just 20 seconds into the game. The Eagles ( 16-13, 10-7 OVC) scored 15 seconds later, but then Murray State went on a 10-2 run over the next eight minutes to take a 13-5 advantage. When Morehead State finally got back onto the scoreboard they responded with a 10-2 run of their own over 4:30 to take their first lead of the game. The run included five-straight three-pointers and gave the Eagles a 25-17 mark.

Both teams then struggled making shots in the final minutes of the half, but the Racers closed the gap to 11 with the final made shot of the half. Junior Mallory Luckett hit a triple with 30 seconds left and Morehead State headed to the locker room with a 35-24 advantage.

Murray State came out in the second half ready to play. The teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the half before the Racers cut the lead to eight with just over 17 minutes left with a 6-0 run. Murray State continued to chip away at the Eagles lead through the half, before starting a 12-0 run with 12:35 left to tie the game at 51 with 9:51 left to play. Lowe was a big spark during the run recording five points and two rebounds. Paige Guffey then gave the Racers their first lead of the half with 8:04 left on a dish from Lowe.

Morehead State quickly regained the lead over the next two minutes, scoring the next six points. But it was the Racers who pulled away with a 15-2 run from the 6:15 mark until 3:40 remained in the game. Murray State recorded five-straight triples during the span to give the Racers a 71-65 lead. No team scored over the next three minutes before Chynna Bozeman hit a three with 54 seconds left to pull within three.

Lowe hit a jumper with 30 seconds left to push the cushion back up to five and marked the first double-digit point performance of her career. Bozeman then hit a contested three with 17 seconds left to cut the lead to two. Bozeman then fouled Hayes and allowed Murray State to finalize the victory at the free-throw line.

After tallying a 31.0 shooting percentage in the first half, the Racers turned up the offensive pressure in the second, hitting 43.9 percent of their shots to end with a 38.6 mark. Murray State also connected on 9-of-19 shots from beyond the arc in the last half to end with a 39.4 three-point shooting percentage.

While the Racers were out-rebounded 54-45, to members of the roster added career rebounding marks. Junior Mallory Luckett tallied her first double-digit rebounding total with 10, while Lowe added a career-best seven.

Murray State's game against Eastern Kentucky, Saturday, Feb. 28 at 5:15 p.m., will determine if the Racers claim the 2008-09 OVC regular-season championship out-right. A Murray State victory clinches the title. After the conclusion of the game the Racers will honor their five seniors: Amber Guffey, Paige Guffey, Ashley Hayes, Jessica Jackson, and Angela Mullins.

Notes: This is the fifth 20-win season for Murray State and the third in a row...the two previous 20-win season came in 1987-88 and 1988-89...the win clinched the No. 1 seed in the OVC Tournament.

Quotes

Head Coach Rob Cross

“I now know that this team can respond in a pressure situation.”

“Kayla Lowe played like she has been in practice all season tonight. One thing that she does not lack is confidence and she showed that tonight when she was called upon.”

“I just hope that everyone comes out on Saturday to honor the five seniors. Their accomplishments both on and off the court have meant a lot to the team.”