Racers Fall Short Against SIUE

Saturday, February 18

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

15-12 (7-7OVC)

SIU Edwardsville

13-12 (6-6OVC)

SIUE

Murray State

Photo by: Donnie Paschall

2/18/2017 4:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

SIU Edwardsville outrebounded the Murray State women 50-27 and had a 24-4 advantage on second-chance points to snap the Racers' three-game losing streak Saturday night at the CFSB Center, defeating MSU 85-76.

The Racers (15-12, 7-7 OVC) led 27-24 with 4:28 to play in the first half when the Cougars (12-16, 8-7 OVC) ended the half on an 11-5 run and led 35-32 at the break and wouldn't relinquish the lead again from there on. SIUE pushed its lead up to as many as 14 points later in the third quarter.

MSU made a strong final push in the fourth period, cutting the deficit down to just one, 59-58 with 8:01 left to play. However, a quick 8-2 run from the Cougars gave them some more breathing room before they pushed their lead back up to 14 later on in the quarter.

Ke'Shunan James led the Racers with a season-best 28 points on 12-for-21 shooting including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. James also dished out four assists and had five steals defensively. Bria Bethea recorded her second consecutive double-double in the loss with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Abria Gulledge was also in double figures with 10 points and also tallied a career-best three blocks.

For the game, MSU outshot the Cougars in the loss as the Racers went 29-of-61 (47.5 percent) from the floor while SIUE shot 45.8 (33-for-72) percent. Both teams shot it well from beyond the arc as the Racers went 11-for-22 from 3-point range and the Cougars were 8-for-15.

On Wednesday, the Racers will return to action as they close out their home slate for the season in a 6 p.m., tip against Southeast Missouri.