Racers Fall to Ball State

Saturday, November 19

Muncie, Ind.

Noon

Murray State

Ball State

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

11/19/2011 3:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score I Box Score (pdf)

The Murray State women's basketball team fell to Ball State, 81-72 at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Ind., in the first of four-straight road games.

The Racers (2-2) were led by freshman Erica Burgess who tallied 18 points, six assists and six steals. Junior Tessa Elkins was the second player in double-figures for MSU, with 14 points. Junior Kyra Watson led the team in rebounds, with seven.

The Racers started the first half strong, with a 6-0 run over the first two minutes. However, when the Cardinals got on the scoreboard they went on an 8-1 run over the next two minutes without a MSU field goal. BSU increased the lead to six (17-11) with another 6-0 run in the middle of the half. The Racers followed with a 4-0 run to cut the advantage to two and then used a 12-2 run from 5:47 to 3:38 to take a 27-25 lead. The run was sparked by MSU's first triple of the game, by Elkins. The lead was short lived, as BSU then went on a 10-5 run to finish the half with a 35-32 advantage.

The teams opened the second half by trading baskets for the first two minutes before MSU started a 4-0 run that gave them a 40-39 lead. The teams then battled for the next four minutes before the Cardinals used a 12-3 run to break a 51-all tie and take a 63-54 advantage, with nine minutes remaining. The lead held steady around 11 points before a MSU 6-0 run, from 6:45-4:45 remaining, cut the deficit to five. However, BSU kept the momentum on their side and pushed the lead back out to double-digits on its way to an 81-72 win.

Shooting percentage and rebounds were the key differences in the games, with the Cardinals earning advantages in both categories. BSU shot 53.8 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range, while the Racers shot just 37.3 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals also earned a 47-32 advantage in rebounds. MSU did earn and advantage in turnovers, forcing BSU into 32 and committing just 18 of their own.

The Racers will continue their four-game road trip with the next stop in Huntsville, Ala., to face Alabama A&M, Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.

Notes: This was the first game that the Racers did not have a lead at the half this season…this was the second game this season that MSU forced its opponents into 30+ turnovers.