Second Half Woes Cost Racers at UTM

Saturday, February 3

Martin, Tenn.

4 p.m.

Murray State

8-15 (4-8OVC)

UT Martin

12-12 (8-4OVC)

Murray State

UT Martin

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/3/2018 6:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Second-half shooting woes cost the Murray State women Saturday afternoon at UT Martin, as the Racers fell to the Skyhawks 85-67 at the Elam Center.

The Racers (8-15, 4-8 OVC) shot just 33 percent in the second half, compared to a 57 percent clip in the first two quarters, while the Skyhawks shot 53 percent overall in the third and fourth after shooting 51 percent in the first half.

For the game, MSU ended up shooting 44.8 percent overall and went 8-of-24 from 3-point range while the Skyhawks shot 52.5 percent and went 10-of-22 from beyond the arc. UTM also hit six more free throws than the Racers.

After a great start out of the gate from MSU in which it led by as many as 18 points early in the first quarter, the Racers were up 25-13 after one quarter. However, in the second period, turnovers cost the Racers dearly and UTM (12-12, 8-4 OVC) was able to notch the game up at 41-41 heading into halftime.

A 21-11 third quarter for Martin gave the Skyhawks a 62-52 lead after three and they were able to open up their lead in the fourth to an even bigger margin thanks to a 15-4 run to open the quarter and led by more than 20.

Turnovers were a big thorn in MSU's side Saturday as well as the Skyhawks scored 28 points off 19 Racer turnovers. UTM also outscored MSU 34-28 in points in the paint while the Racers had a 14-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Bria Bethea led MSU in the loss with 20 points, 16 of which came in the first half. Bethea shot 6-of-10 from the floor and hit four 3-pointers while also adding a game-high eight rebounds. Ke'Shunan James chipped in with 12 points and along with Janika Griffith-Wallace, led MSU with five assists in the loss.

Jasmine Borders chipped in with 11 points on the night while Brianna Crane and Abria Gulledge had nine each.

The Racers return to home action Thursday as Austin Peay comes to the CFSB Center for a 3 p.m., contest.