Women’s Basketball Opens Season With Win

Friday, November 8

CFSB Center

7 p.m.

Murray State

1-0 (0-0OVC)

101

Robert Morris-Springfield

3-3

Team	1	2	F
Robert Morris-Springfield	22	22	44
Murray St.	53	48	101

Photo by: Kyser Lough/Ledger & Times

11/8/2013 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State women's basketball team breezed by Robert Morris-Springfield, 101-44, in its season opener Friday at the CFSB Center in Murray. It was the fourth season opening win in six seasons for MSU head coach Rob Cross.

The game's outcome was hardly ever in doubt, as the Racers never trailed except after an opening basket by the Eagles. After a Keiona Kirby bucket with 15:03 left in the first half gave Murray State a 19-8 lead, the Racers never led by fewer than double-digits for the remainder of the game. The 101 points scored by MSU marks the 22^nd time in program history that the team has reached the century mark in a game and has now done so at least once in each of the last three seasons.

The Racer defense also had a strong showing in the opener, as it held the Eagles to just 18.6 percent shooting. Murray State forced 11 steals in the contest, while committing just eight turnovers and dishing out 16 assists.

Kirby led Murray State in the contest with a career-high 25 points, shattering her previous best of 15, set last season at SIU Edwardsville. Jessica Winfrey got her senior campaign off to a hot start, as she notched the game's lone double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Chanyere Hosey also had a career night as she pulled down a game-high 13 boards to go along with four points. Four freshmen rounded out the Racers scoring in double-digits with Julia Fox going 4-for-10 from beyond-the-arc for 12 points, while Taylor Porter, Janssen Starks and Nikia Edom each added 11.

Traci Osby came off the bench for Robert Morris-Springfield to lead her team with 21 points, while Marquichea Burns led the Eagles in rebounds with seven.

The Racers will get just two days off before traveling to Evansville Monday. Tipoff between MSU and the Purple Aces at the Ford Center is set for 7 p.m.