Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Southeast Missouri
Racers Fall in Defense Battle Against Southeast Missouri
1/23/2011 12:29:28 AM | Women's Basketball
The Racers (6-13, 2-7 OVC) were led by red-shirt freshman Jessica Winfrey. The Marion, Ark., native tallied her second-consecutive double-double and the fifth of the season, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Mariah Robinson added nine points and junior Kayla Lowe contributed eight points and five rebounds.
The first half started with a Redhawks (7-12, 3-6 OVC) 5-0 run in the first three minutes. SEMO was leading 7-2, with just under 16 minutes to play when the Racers mounted a come-back that gave them a brief lead. MSU went on an 8-2 run over a four-minute span, but the Redhawks kept the score close and with 8:49 left in the opening half started a 5-0 run that gave them the advantage for the rest of the half, 12-16. Both teams then increased the already high defensive pressure and allowed just 17 more points to be scored. SEMO had built the lead to six with just over a minute to play, but a three by Lowe cut the deficit to 21-24, which is how the scoreboard read heading into the intermission.
MSU came out fighting in the second half and went on a 5-4 run over the first seven minutes before SEMO was able to record a field goal. However, trips to the charity stripe allowed the Redhawks to keep the lead on their side of the scoreboard. When SEMO garnered their first field goal of the half, at 13:11, they went on a 9-0 run that gave them the advantage for the rest of the game. The Racers never let up during the stanza and cut the lead to two points, 44-42, with two minutes left to play. But the Redhawks made the most of free throws in the final minutes, making four-of-six attempts to earn the four-point victory.
Free throws were the key differential in the game, with SEMO not only making more, but also earning more than double the chances. The Redhawks went 15-of-18 from the free-throw line, while MSU was allowed to attempt just seven shots (making six). A rebounding disadvantage for the Racers was also a key stat, with MSU being out-rebounded 45-34. Both teams were held to low scoring averages for the game, with the Racers holding a slight advantage, at 32.1 percent to 26.4.
The Racers will have one game on the road and one at home next week. MSU will first travel to SIU Edwardsville for the final regular-season non-conference game of the year. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 25 at the Vadalabene Center. MSU will then host UT Martin, Saturday, Jan. 29 at 5:15 p.m.
Notes: Winfrey's two consecutive double-doubles are the first consecutive double-doubles for an MSU player since Amber Guffey tallied four in-a-row from Feb. 12, 2009 to Feb. 21, 2009…the 48 points scored by SEMO are the lowest allowed in a loss this season and the second-lowest total by an opponent this season (IUPUI – 42).
