Racers Outlast EIU for Big Overtime Win

Thursday, February 7

CFSB Center

5 p.m.

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/7/2019 7:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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The Murray State women's basketball team picked up a huge, 60-51 overtime win over Eastern Illinois Thursday at the CFSB Center in Murray to keep them in the thick of the race to Evansville.

The Racers got off to a hot start in the game, jumping out an early 7-0 lead. Murray State was able to carry over that momentum to the second quarter where it pushed the advantage out to 24-12. However from that point, Eastern Illinois ended the half on a 9-0 run, that the Panthers eventually pushed out to 22 points at 34-29, with just under three to play in the third quarter.

Throughout the remaining third quarter and ensuing fourth, the game continued to go back and forth. With Murray leading 45-44 and under a minute and a half to play, Grace Lennox buried a three, which followed by a layup from Karle Pace to give EIU and a 49-45 lead. With just over a minute to play, Macey Turley went 4-for-4 at the free throw line to tie the game and send MSU into its first overtime over the season.

In overtime, the Racers made just one field goal but went 9-for-10 from the charity stripe, including 6-for-6 from Turley. Meanwhile on the other end of the floor, Murray State held the Panthers to no field goals and just two total points in the bonus frame to seal the nine-point win. The Racers finished the night at 17-for-23 from the free throw line, led by Turley's 10-for-10 performance.

Turley and Janika Griffith-Wallace led the way for Murray State with 18 points each, while Evelyn Adebayo followed with 13 points. Adebayo also had a career-high 20 rebounds on the night for her 14^th double-double of the season.

The Racers return to action at home Saturday when they welcome the Cougars of SIUE to the CFSB Center for a 5 p.m. tip.