Women’s Basketball Holds Off Pesky Lispcomb, 86-79

Saturday, November 30

Nashville, Tenn.

4 p.m.

Murray State

5-2

Lipscomb

1-5

Team	1	2	F
Murray St.	47	39	86
Lipscomb	39	40	79

11/30/2013 6:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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

The Murray State women's basketball team survived a second half surge by Liscomb Saturday in Nashville and held on for 86-79 win. The win is the third straight for the Racers this season and the fourth consecutive over the Lady Bisons.

After trailing in the opening minutes of the game, the Racers (5-2) surged out to a 16-point lead with 3:08 remaining in the opening stanza. However, Lipscomb (1-5) battled back cut the deficit in half to trail by just eight, 47-39, at the break. Keiona Kirby played a major role in the opening half by scoring 16 of her career-high 29 points in the stanza.

The Lady Bisons then opened the second half by outscoring Murray State, 19-10, to take their first lead since 2:08 into the first half at 58-57. However, just 27 seconds after Liscomb regained the lead; MSU took it back with a three from Nikia Edom and never allowed the Lady Bisons to hold it again.

For the second straight game, the Racers committed fewer turnovers than the opposition, 13-10. Murray State is now 4-0 on the season when protecting the ball better than their opponents. The MSU bench also outscored Lipscomb, 31-15, marking the sixth time in seven games that the Racers have accomplished the feat this season. So far this season, the Murray State bench is averaging 29.4 points per game while limiting opponents' benches to 16.4 points.

Kirby led five Racers in double-digits on the night with 29 points in addition to 12 from Jashae Lee, 11 from Jessica Winfrey and 10 each from Janssen Starks and Taylor Porter. Winfrey's 11 points paired with her game-high 16 rebounds, for her second double-double of the season. Sara Bliss led Lipscomb with 22 points, while Megan Southern followed with 20 points and 15 rebounds.

The Racers will continue their two-game stint away from The Bank next week when they travel to Cincinnati. On Wednesday, the Racers will face off with Xavier for the first time since 1983 at the Cintas Center at 6 p.m. CDT.