Racers Outlast Morehead on Senior Night

Monday, February 24

CFSB Center

7 p.m.

Murray State

11-16 (4-11OVC)

Morehead State

11-16 (5-9,OVC)

Morehead St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Neal Head

2/24/2014 11:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

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The Murray State women's basketball team ended its 2013-14 home slate with a dramatic 84-81 win over Morehead State Monday night at The Bank. Before the game Jessica Winfrey and manger Thomas Pool were honored for their contributions to the team as part of the Senior Night festivities.

Morehead State (11-16, 5-9) controlled the game at the beginning, but that did not last long. After a couple of quick baskets by the Eagles, Murray State (11-16, 4-11) went on a 10-0 run just three minutes into the game and held on to the lead for the remainder of the half. MSU shot a season-best 58.3 percent in the first half and took a nine point lead into the locker room at the break.

In the second, it looked like Murray State would cruise to the win after stopping a quick Morehead State run to start the second and going on to lead by as many as 14 with just over 10 minutes to play. However, the Eagles had other ideas, as they went on a 22-5 run from that point and took their first lead since early in the first half with 6:23 to go.

However, less than a minute after losing the lead, Murray State tied the game at 69 with a 3-pointer by Nikia Edom. A minute later Netanya Jackson knocked down a pair of free throws to give MSU a lead it would never relinquish. The two free throws by Jackson were two of nine on 10 attempts the Racers would convert in the final five minutes, on their way to going 25-for-29 for the game.

Although, Murray State never lost the lead in the final five minutes, Morehead State did not go quietly. With the lead down to two with 18 seconds to go, the Eagles grabbed a rebound off of a missed MSU free throw and drove the length of the court. With just 11 second to go, Almesha Jones went up to tie the game at 80, but was blocked by Winfrey. The Racers then went 4-for-4 at the line in the final seven seconds, allowing them to negate a buzzer-beating three by Shanice Parker and hold on for the 84-81 win.

Nikia Edom led Murray State with 17 points on a night in which she went 5-for-6 from the floor, 3-for-4 from 3-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Winfrey followed closely on her big night with 15 points, including going a perfect 5-for-5 at the charity stripe. The senior also pulled down four boards in the game, giving her 801 for her career and making her just the sixth player in program history to reach the 800 rebound plateau.

Janssen Starks added 15 points to the cause on the night, while Taylor Porter chipped in 11. Netanya Jackson led MSU with nine rebounds on the night, to go along with 13 points, to round out the five Racers in double-digits.

Morehead State's Almesha Jones was 11-for-23 from the floor in the game to lead all scorers with 31 points. Jones was dangerously close to a triple-double in the contest, as she also had nine assists and eight steals. Mackenzie Arledge was next in line for the Eagles as she scored 10 and pulled down 10 rebounds for the game's only double-double.

The Racers will close out the 2013-14 season on Saturday when they travel to Cape Girardeau to take on Southeast Missouri. Tip-off from the Show Me Center is set for 3 p.m.