Xavier Needs Late Push to Get By Racers

Wednesday, December 4

Cincinnati, Ohio

6 p.m.

Murray State

5-3

Xavier

4-4

Team	1	2	F
Murray St.	32	34	66
Xavier	31	39	70

12/4/2013 8:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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

The Murray State women's basketball team led for a good portion of Wednesday's game, but wasn't able to hold off Xavier and fell 70-66 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Racers (5-3) led for most of the first half and even took a one point lead, 32-31, into the locker room at break. In each half, it was the hotter team that led that stanza. Unfortunately for Murray State, it was Xavier (4-4) who had the hotter hand in the second half, leading to the four-point win. The Racers even had the game tied at 56 with 6:06 to play, but it was not to be as they were outscored 14-10 after that point.

Xavier's defense stifled the Racers, as they entered the game making 9.6 3-pointers per game and were held to just four by the Musketeers. Despite being shut down on the perimeter, the Racers shot well in the game, just missing the 40 percent mark from the floor at 38.7. They even outshot the Musketeers in the contest, which finished at 36.8.

The Racers were led in the contest by Keiona Kirby with 18. Kirby has now led Murray State in scoring, either solo or with a teammate, in each and every contest this season. She was followed by a career-high 16 points from Janssen Starks and Jashae Lee who turned in her second career double-double with 13 points and career-high 14 rebounds.

Jessica Winfrey was a field goal away from her own double-double with eight points and 11 rebounds. The game marks just the third time this season that Winfrey and Lee have both pulled down double-digit rebounds.

Leah Schaeffer scored 13 points to lead Xavier in the ballgame, while Jenna Crittendon added 12. Ashley Wanninger and Aliyah Zantt each scored 10 to round out the double-digit Musketeers

The Racers now return home this weekend for one game before heading back out on the road to conclude non-conference play. Murray State will play host to New Orleans Saturday at 1 p.m., as part of a doubleheader with the men.