Racers Fall At SIU

Tuesday, December 16

Carbondale, Ill.

12:05 p.m.

Murray State

3-7, 0-0OVC

Southern Illinois

6-2, 0-0MVC

Murray State

Southern Illinois

Photo by: Sam Sheffer

12/16/2014 1:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The Murray State women's basketball team fell to Southern Illinois 78-63 Tuesday afternoon at the SIU Arena in Carbondale, Illinois.

The first half started off slow for both teams as the score was tied 4-4 at the first media time out. Murray State (3-7) had their largest lead by three at the 14:37 mark, but Southern Illinois (6-2) was able to battle and took a 42-29 lead going into halftime. Murray State went into the locker room shooting 43.3 percent compared to the Salukis' 42.9, and outrebounded SIU by four.

Keiona Kirby got MSU off on the right foot in the second when she made a three-point shot on the first possession, but the then Salukis went on a 13-0 run. Murray State fought back with its own 12-0 run and caused the Salukis to turn the ball over three times, cutting the lead to 55-44. Murray State continued to chip away at the lead, but the Salukis kept dropping baskets and went on a 7-0 run to pus 68-49. The Racers efforts in the second half weren't enoug, as they fel 78-63.

Three Racers scored in double-digits in the loss with Keiona Kirby leading the way team 19 points. Ke'Shunan James and Kyra Gulledge followed with 17 and 10 points, respectively, while James also led the team with eight rebounds. MSU shot 43.0 percent from the floor in the contest, with SIU being a touch better at 46 percent. The Salukis also crashed the boards in the second half to double up MSU's total at 24 to 12, giving them a 43-35 margin on the afternoon.

Murray State will return to the CFSB Center to face Jacksonville Saturday at 1 p.m. Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the Racers and Dolphins.