Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Illinois
Racers Fall to Panthers in Final Regular-Season Road Game
2/19/2011 7:06:16 PM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
The Racers were led by red-shirt freshman Jessica Winfrey, who tallied her ninth double-double of the season, with 16 points and 11 rebounds. It marked the second time this season that the Marion, Ark., native earned the accomplishment twice against the same team. Winfrey also earned doubles-doubles in both games UT Martin. Sophomore Mariah Robinson was the only other player in double-digits for MSU, with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists.
Both teams traded runs and baskets through most of the opening half, combining for two ties and four lead changes. However, no team led by more than one or two possessions until the final two minutes of the half when EIU started a 7-0 run that gave them a 33-23 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Racers fought hard through the second half and were cutting away at the disadvantage until the last five minutes. MSU went on several runs through the stanza, but they were unable to cut the deficit lower than eight points. In the final minutes EIU went on a 6-0 run to push the advantage out to 17.
The Racers improved on their shooting percentage from the first half, hitting 35.5 percent of their shots compared to 27.3 percent in the first. MSU also hit more than double the amount of triples in the second, improving from two to five.
EIU earned key advantages in shooting percentage, free throws and rebounding. The Panthers shot 37.1 percent to the Racers 31.3 for the game and made more free throws than MSU was allowed to attempt. EIU went 18-of-25 from the charity stripe, while the Racers were held to an 8-of-11 mark. The Panthers also earned a 49-37 advantage on the glass, including an 11-7 mark on the offensive side.
The Racers will now head back to Murray, Ky., to conclude the 2010-11 regular season at the CFSB Center. MSU will host Morehead State, Thursday, Feb. 24 and then Eastern Kentucky, Saturday, Feb. 26, with both games set for 5:15 p.m. tip-offs. The final weekend of OVC action will determine the fate of the Racers tournament hopes, set for March 2-5 in Nashville, Tenn.
Notes: Junior Kristen Kluempers tallied a season-best eight points.
