Racers Earn Second-Straight Victory With an 82-72 Win Over Tennessee Tech

Saturday, January 16

RSEC

5:15 p.m.

Murray State

Tennessee Tech

Racers Earn Second-Straight Victory With an 82-72 Win Over Tennessee Tech

1/17/2010 12:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball

The Murray State women's basketball team earned its second-straight victory with an 82-72 win over Tennessee Tech at the Regional Special Events Center. The win also marks the third-straight win at home for the Racers (8-10, 3-4 Ohio Valley Conference).

MSU was led by sophomore Rachael Isom and freshman Mariah Robinson. Isom tallied a career-best 26 points, while Robinson added a career-high 22 points. Both players garnered 10 of their points at the free-throw line, as the Racers attempted a school record 50 free throws and made 37 (the second most in school history).

The Golden Eagles (7-10, 2-5 OVC) opened the first half with a 6-0 run on three-pointers from Kylie Cook. TTU kept the defensive pressure up and didn't allow the Racers to garner their first basket of the game until 15:25 remained in the opening stanza. MSU had gotten on the scoreboard before that time, making all four free-throw attempts, but the Golden Eagles had increased their lead to 10-4.

The score remained in favor of TTU at around six points until the Racers mounted a comeback with just under 10 minutes left to play in the first half. MSU went on a 10-3 run to tie the game at 28, with 4:39 on the clock. The teams then traded points for the next 1:30 before the Racers used one more run to take a lead into the locker room for the second-straight game. MSU tallied nine points, to the Golden Eagles five, to take the 40-37 lead into the intermission.

The second half was a close battle at the start, with the Racers keeping a 2-6 point lead until TTU used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 50 with 11:18 remaining in the second half. The Golden Eagles continued with an 11-2 run to take a 55-52 lead. MSU responded by going on a 6-1 run to retake the lead with 8:31 on the clock. TTU then went on a 5-0 run over the next two minutes to take a three-point lead.

The Racers then got a boost from Isom, with two-straight three's that started a 15-3 run, from 5:14 to 2:48. MSU held the Golden Eagles without a field goal during the span, with all three of their points coming at the charity stripe. The Racers then kept control of the game and built their lead out to as many as 10 points in the final minutes of the game on way to the victory.

Free throws were a key to the win, as the Racers made 37-of-50 and the Golden Eagles were held to 25 less attempts and made just 16.

The Racers return to the road for the next three games, starting at Charleston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 21 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. MSU will also face Southeast Missouri State (Jan. 23) and UT Martin (Jan. 30) on the road trip.

Notes: This is the first winning streak for MSU since opening the season with four-straight…the win is the sixth-straight over the Golden Eagles and the fifth-consecutive win over TTU in the RSEC…the 37 free throws made by the Racers was just one shy of the school record (38) set against East Texas State (Dec. 11, 1991).

Quotes
Head Coach Rob Cross
“I thought we played extremely well offensively tonight. I was very disappointed in the defensive play in the first half, but the team made the adjustment after half time.”

“Our ability to attack the rim and get to the free-throw line is what kept us in the game in the first half.”

“We have been shooting free throws a lot better of late and we need to continue to do so.”

“Rachel Isom and Mariah Robinson did an outstanding job tonight offensively and defensively on the boards.”

“There is not a night in this league that you are not in danger of losing. There is not a team in this league that you don't have to play a phenomenal game to win.”

“We are excited about the direction that the team is going right now. We have a very tough road trip coming up with Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri.”