Women’s Basketball Nipped In OT By Evansville

Wednesday, December 3

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

3-5

Evansville

2-4

OT 1

Evansville

Murray State

Photo by: Sam Sheffer

12/3/2014 11:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Despite a balanced scoring effort and sharp free throw shooting, the Murray State women's basketball team fell to Evansville, 93-83, in overtime, Wednesday at the CFSB Center in Murray.

Six different Racers featured in double digits in the contest, while the team sank 15 of 16 free throws for a season-high 93.8 percent. However, that was not enough to overcome 27 turnovers in the game that led to 37 points by the Purple Aces.

The Racers (3-5) began the game in huge hole, allowing UE to jump out to a 12-0 lead. MSU was not deterred by the rough start and pushed to close the gap to 17-15 with just under 13 minutes to go in the stanza.

Each time the Purple Aces (2-4) would extend the lead, by as many as 12 at some points, Murray State inched closer to the lead and trailed by just two 31-29, with 2:30 to play. Evansville however, ended the first on an 8-3 run, to lead 39-32 at the break.

In the second, it was more of the same, with UE moving the lead out to a wide margin, only to have Murray State close in on but not quite take the lead. Then, with 9:43 to go in the game, MSU took a brief, 59-58, lead, but would not lead again until the 4:28 mark when they eventually pushed their advantage out to four at 72-68.

Evansville then reclaimed the lead with 2:34 to go on a three by Mallory Ladd. Murray State would cut the lead to one twice, but could not gain traction until tying the game with 40 seconds left on a three by Keiona Kirby. Neither team was able to score in its final possessions, sending Murray State to overtime for the second straight game.

In overtime, Murray State simply ran out of gas, shooting just 3-for-10 from the field and going 0-for-3 from three-point range when they entered the extra time shooting 43.3 and 37.0 percent, respectively. The Racers also could not get to the free throw line in overtime, whereas the Purple Aces went 8-for-8 from the stripe helping lead to a 93-83 victory.

Keiona Kirby led Murray State with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Ke'Shunan James followed with 16 points and five boards. Kyra Gulledge pulled down the first double-double of her career with 10 points and a career-best 12 rebounds in the game, to go along with MSU individual season best of six blocks. Olivia Cunningham added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Julia Fox and LeAsia Wright chipped in with 12 and 10, respectively.

Sara Dickey scored a program record 37 points to lead UE in scoring, while Sasha Robinson led her team on the boards with 11 to go along with 17 points for a double-double. Mallory Ladd also had 17 points and flirted with a triple-double by adding seven rebounds and eight assists.

Murray State will look to snap a three-game skid Saturday when it travels to Georgia to take on Kennesaw State. Tip-off from the KSU Convocation Center in Kennesaw is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CST.