Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Kentucky
Racers Defeat Eastern Kentucky, Punch Ticket to Nashville
2/26/2011 9:11:33 PM | Women's Basketball
Box Score
The Racers were led by a group of four players with double-digits in either the points or rebounding columns. Sophomore Mariah Robinson led all scorers, with 22 points, while junior Mallory Schwab had a season-best 16 points. Sophomore Tessa Elkins led MSU with a career-best 13 rebounds, making it just the eighth time this season that red-shirt freshman Jessica Winfrey did not lead the Racers in the category. Winfrey was the final player in double-digits, with 10 boards.
The Racers came out strong in the opening half, going on a 4-0 run before EKU was able to score. The teams then traded baskets for the next few minutes before a 7-0 run by MSU pushed them ahead, 15-6, with 12:12 remaining in the half. The Lady Colonels then went on a 4-0 run of their own to cut the lead to three. However, that was as close as the Racers allowed EKU to get in the half. MSU increased its lead to as many as nine and went to the locker room with a 36-29 advantage.
The Racers opened the second half with a 6-0 run to take their largest lead of the game (14). Both teams then went cold from the field for four minutes, with the Lady Colonels earned the first points at 14:25. MSU was held without a field goal until 12:02, but had tallied two free throws during the span and EKU went on just a 4-2 run. MSU tallied four points in the next minute and then after 11:22 was held scoreless again until 4:49 remained in the half. During the span the Lady Colonels made the most of free throws and went on a 9-0 run that allowed them to tie the game at 51. But the Racers did not let the momentum turn anymore and followed with a 6-0 run over the next 1:30 to take the lead for good. In the final three minutes the Racers scored nine points to EKU's three.
Neither team had a great shooting percentage from the field, hitting just 30 percent each. MSU did earn key advantages from beyond the arc and at the charity stripe. The Racers made 8-of-25 triples (.320), while holding the Lady Colonels to a 5-of-21 mark (.238). MSU also made 19-of-26 free throws to EKU's 15-of-23.
Notes: Mariah Robinson hit a three at the start of each half as the first Racer points... the trip to Nashville will be the 18th appearance in the OVC Championship for the Racers, who head to the tournament as the No. 8 seed…MSU is 11-17 in tournament games.
