Racers Claw Past EKU; Clinch OVC Berth

Thursday, February 27

Murray, Ky.

5 p.m.

Murray State

14-14,7-10OVC

Eastern Kentucky

10-18,4-13OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Eastern Ky.	22	10	15	18	65
Murray St.	10	21	15	20	66

Monica Evans, Sarah Sutton, Lauren Jackson, Gentri Worley & Sadie Hill

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/27/2020 10:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)Photo Gallery

Alexis Burpo hit a driving layup with 10 seconds left in the game, Thursday at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky, to lift the Murray State women's basketball team past Eastern Kentucky, 66-65. The win, paired with an Austin Peay win over Morehead State, secured the Racers' third OVC tournament berth in as many years under head coach Rechelle Turner.

Murray State trailed by as many as 12 in the first quarter, but never gave up, trailing by just one at the break. The Racers never led by more than four in the contest, a lead that came with 1:41 left in the final stanza. With 1:15 left in regulation, EKU closed the gap to one with a Catie Kaifes 3-pointer, which was followed by, after a Murray State miss, a Bria Bass layup that gave the Colonels a one-point lead with 22 seconds to play. On the ensuing possession, the Racers ran off 12 seconds before Alexis Burpo made the would-be game-winning bucket, thanks to a solid defensive effort by MSU in the final moments of the contest.

Murray State shot 45.8-percent from the floor, including five for their last six of the game, made six of nine 3-point attempts and went 16-for-19 at the free throw line. Alexis Burpo led all scorers in the game with 21 points, while Laci Hawthorne followed with 19 to go along with nine rebounds and a perfect 7-for-7 performance at the charity stripe. Lex Mayes went 3-for-4 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range, and 3-for-4 at the free throw line to finish with 11 points, while G'Torria Swinton came off the bench to lead Murray State on the glass with a career-high 11 boards.

On Saturday, the Racers return to the CFSB Center for the final time this season when they host Austin Peay in a First Financial Bank Battle of the Border matchup. Tip-off at The Bank is scheduled for 5 p.m.