Racers Out of the Gates With a Win

Friday, November 13

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

1-0

Oakland City

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Oakland City	19	14	14	28	75
Murray State	26	23	19	23	91

11/13/2015 8:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Ke'Shunan James and LeAsia Wright combined to score 43 points to help lead the Murray State women's basketball team to a season-opening victory over Oakland City Friday night at the CFSB Center. James scored a game-high 26 while Wright added 17.

James also registered a team-high four assists in the win and tallied a career-high six steals. The Racers (1-0) had 16 steals as a team in the victory and forced the Lady Oaks into 23 turnovers. Bria Bethea, Kyra Gulledge and Wright had two steals each.

Gulledge was a point shy of a double-double on the night, scoring nine points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. Jashae Lee added 10 points and four boards while Lexii Cassell had eight points and seven rebounds. MSU had a 56-41 edge on the boards in the contest.

The Racers jumped out to a quick lead, leading by as many as 10 points (28-18) in the first quarter before OCU cut the deficit to 26-19 after the first period. MSU had a great second quarter building its lead to 22 points, at 46-24 with 1:44 left to play in the first half. The Lady Oaks were able to chip away the final two minutes of the half and the Racers carried a 49-33 lead into the locker room.

Murray State controlled the pace the rest of the way, maintaining a comfortable cushion throughout the third and fourth quarters as Oakland City only got to within 13 points, 68-55, with 7:16 left to play in the contest. All 14 Racers that dressed played in the win.

The Racers actually shot worse from the field in the win, hitting on 37 percent of their shots (33-for-89) while OCU hit 30-of-73 (41 percent). MSU's 20 offensive rebounds however led to 14 second-chance points while the Lady Oaks scored just five on putbacks. The Racers also held a 42-32 edge in points in the paint and also had a 23-18 lead on points off turnovers. The Biggest advantage the Racers gained was at the free throw line, as they hit 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) at the charity stripe while Oakland City went just 6-of-12.

MSU returns to action Sunday as it hits the road for the first time this season for a 3 p.m. contest at Alabama A&M. The Racers defeated the Bulldogs in last year's contest at the CFSB Center 102-81 Nov. 16.