Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
6-12 (2-5OVC)
Belmont
13-5 (6-1OVC)
Late Shutdown Defense Not Enough in Loss To Belmont
1/24/2019 9:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State women's basketball team did not allow Belmont to score a field goal in nearly the last four minutes of Thursday's game at the CFSB Center, but it was not enough as the Bruins held on for the 65-58 win.
Down by as many as 14 in the third, the Racers cut the lead to only three with 2:14 to play on a 3-pointer by Janika Griffith-Wallace. Despite holding Belmont to just four free throws in the final 3:48, Murray State just could not close the gap and fell by seven.
Even in the loss, there were plenty of positives for Murray State including holding a Belmont team that shot 41.7 percent from the floor, 32.2-percent from 3-point range and averaged 70.2 points prior to game to just 39.0-percent, 25.0-percent and 66 points, respectively. Murray State also committed a season-low eight turnovers in the contest, while dishing out 13 total assists.
Evelyn Adebayo notched her 11th double-double of the season Thursday with 20 points and 11 rebounds moving her into a tie for ninth place on the MSU single-season double-doubles list. Sixteen of Adebayo's 20 points in the came from the floor where she finished an impressive 8-for-16 on the night.
Griffith Wallace came off the bench for the Racers to give her team a spark and finished by tying her season-high of 14 points. With the help of Griffith-Wallace, the Murray State bench outscored its Belmont counterparts Thursday, 19-5. Macey Turley added eight to the effort, while Alexis Burpo finished with seven points and eight boards.
The Racers wrap up their two-game mini-home stand Saturday when they welcome the Tigers of Tennessee State. Tip-off from The Bank is scheduled for 5 p.m.
