Robinson, Sisk Help Women’s Basketball Cruise Past SIUE

Saturday, January 19

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

10-7, 3-3OVC

SIU Edwardsville

8-10, 2-4OVC

SIU Edwardsville

Murray St.

Photo by: Neal Head

Robinson, Sisk Help Women’s Basketball Cruise Past SIUE

1/19/2013 8:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

The Murray State women's basketball team got a combined 57 points from senior Mariah Robinson and freshman Erika Sisk on Saturday night at the CFSB Center, as the Racers snapped a two-game home losing streak by topping SIU Edwardsville, 81-68.

The first half went back and forth in the early going, with three ties and two lead changes. However, once the Racers (10-7, 3-3) took back the lead with 11:59 left in the opening half, they never allowed the Cougars (8-10, 2-4) to regain it.

Robinson scored 17 of her game-high 31 points in the first half, including going 5-for-8 from 3-point range. As a team, MSU ended the half shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and going 10-for-12 from the free throw line.

In the second half, the Racers kept the lead for the entire stanza and led by as many as 20 with 13:35 to play. SIUE cut the lead to 10 twice with under eight minutes to play, including once with just a minute to play, but Murray State battled back each time and never allowed the lead into single digits during the half.

The Racers finished the game shooting 42.1 percent from the floor, their largest shooting percentage of the season against a Division I opponent. MSU also finished the night with an 80.6 free throw percentage, marking the first time since Nov. 29 against Ball State that they have eclipsed the 80 percent mark at the charity stripe.

Robinson tied her season-high by scoring 31 points and set a new season-high by nailing six 3-pointers in the game. Sisk also tied a season and career-high by scoring 26 points, while also setting a new season and career mark with eight made free throws, to finish the night at 8-for -11.

Senior Tessa Elkins and freshman Kelsey Dirks led the Racers on the night in the rebound column with six each. Elkins also had two points, four assists and two steals, while Dirks chipped in with six points and three blocks.

Despite fouling out with over five minutes left in the game, Raven Berry finished just one board shy of a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds to lead her team in both categories. CoCo Moore added 14, while Tierny Austin had 12 to round out the Cougars in double-digits.

On Monday, the Racers will close out a three-game home stand with OVC West rival Eastern Illinois. Tip-off from The Bank is set for 7 p.m.