Racers 2nd Half Surge Not Enough At EIU

Monday, January 20

Charleston, Ill.

7 p.m.

Murray State

8-10 (1-5OVC)

Eastern Illinois

8-10 (3-4OVC)

Team	1	2	F
Murray State	19	55	74
Eastern Illinois	28	52	80

1/20/2014 9:20:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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

The Murray State women's basketball team scored a season-high 55 second-half points, but it was not enough to overcome a slow start, as the Racers fell, 80-74, to Eastern Illinois Monday at Lantz Arena in Charleston.

Murray State (8-10, 1-5 OVC) had a rough start to the game as they made just one of its first 17 field goal attempts. The Panthers (8-10, 3-4) led MSU by as many as 17 in the first half and held the Racers to a season-low 19 first half points. Good defense helped Murray State keep the game close, as it trailed by just nine, 28-19, at the break.

In the second half, the Racers were a totally different team. They shot 53.3 percent, compared to 19.4 in the first, including seven three pointers. In addition, they were a blazing 16-for-18 at the free throw line in the frame to finish the game at 20-for-24.

Murray State cut the lead to just three on three separate occasions in the final half, including twice in the final 30 seconds of the game, However, Murray State was unable to catch a break, as the Panthers sank 24 of 27 freebies in the stanza to hold on for the 80-74 win.

Nikia Edom scored a career-high 23 points to lead Murray State on the night, while Julia Fox added 14, with all 14 points coming in the second half. Taylor Porter chipped in 10, while Jashae Lee turned in 12 to round out the four Racers in double-digits. Lee also added a team-high nine rebounds, while Chanyere Hosey contributed to the cause with six boards to go along six points.

Sabina Oroszova led the Panthers with game-highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds. Katlyn Payne added 15 for EIU, while Erica Brown, Jordyne Crunk and Taryn Olson had 15, 13 and 11, respectively.

The Racers return home this weekend for two games at The Bank. On Saturday, MSU will host Jacksonville State, while Tennessee Tech comes to Murray Monday.