Racers Battle Hard, Fall to UT Martin

Saturday, January 31

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

5-17 (0-9OVC)

UT Martin

13-9 (9-0OVC)

UT Martin

Murray State

Photo by: Sam Sheffer

1/31/2015 7:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Murray State women's basketball battled hard but fell 95-85 to UT Martin Saturday at the CFSB Center. The Racers are the first team to score 80-plus points against the Skyhawks this season. This is the first time MSU has scored 80-plus points since the Brescia game.

Murray State (5-17, 0-9 OVC) knew they would have their hands full with an undefeated conference opponent. UT Martin (13-9, 9-0 OVC) came right off the tipoff strong as they took an early 17-6 lead, but Murray State turned it on. MSU went on a 10-0 run to cut the Skyhawks lead to 17-16. During Murray State's run they caused the Skyhawks to turn the ball over three times. MSU and UTM were tied with 20 rebounds each going into the locker room. UT Martin went into halftime with a 47-31 lead.
The Racers came into the second half with energy and fire as they tried to overcome a 16-point deficit. The Skyhawks continued to lead, but MSU would continue to keep the score close. Murray State battled but fell to UT Martin 95-85. The Racers shot 41.3-percent from the floor, which is their best shooting percentage since the Tennessee Tech game on Jan. 8.

The Racers were led by Julia Fox who scored a career-high 20 points. Three additional Racers scored in double-digit points coming from Keiona Kirby with 19, LeAsia Wright who tied her career-high with 18, and Netanya Jackson with 11. Jackson was the only player in the game to bring down 10 rebounds, while notching her fourth double-double of the season. Ajee Smith came in off the bench and had a new career-high six points, five assists and six free-throws made. Fox had new career-high with her seven field goals made and six three-point field goals made. Wright tied her three-point field goals made with three, and free-throws made with five.

Fox's 13 three-point field goals attempted is tied for 10^th on the MSU All-Time List. Murray State tied UT Martin with 40 rebounds, and 22 from the charity stripe. MSU got 57 points from bench players, which ties their season-high for bench points. The Racers are the first team to score 80-plus points against the Skyhawks this season. This is the first time MSU has scored 80-plus points since the Brescia game.

Ashia Jones from UT Martin scored 44 points for a new career-high and to tie the Skyhawks single-game scoring record.

"We had a good effort against a very good basketball team," said head coach Rob Cross, "we really battled."
Murray State will face Southeast Missouri at the Bank Thursday at 5 p.m.