The Murray State women’s basketball team lost a nail-bitter to Morehead State, 95-90, in the quarterfinal game of the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference Championships. The Racers end the season with a 13-17 overall record and an 8-10 mark in the league standings (tied for fourth).

MSU had two players finish the game with 20 or more points for the first time since Jan. 16, 2010 against Tennessee Tech. Sophomore Kayla Lowe garnered a career-best 28 points, while senior Kayla Vance added 24. Lowe’s 28 points are the most for a Racer in a single game this season, and one more than the previous high set by Vance against Tennessee Tech.

Senior Mallory Luckett finished as the top rebounder with 10, while Lowe added eight and freshman Tessa Elkins tallied six offensive boards for MSU.

The first half had one lead change and three tie scores as each team traded several runs throughout the half. The Eagles took the final lead of the half with a 9-2 run from 12:41 to 8:25 without a MSU field goal. Morehead State took a 26-19 lead during the span. The Racers recovered with a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to two (26-24) but another Eagles 5-0 run pushed the lead back out to seven. The advantage stayed between six-to-eight points until the final three minutes of the game when MSU went on a 6-0 run over a minute span to cut the lead back to two (39-37). However Morehead State then took advantage of free throws, going 3-of-4, and went on an 8-4 run in the final two minutes to take a 47-41 lead into the locker room.

The first 10 minutes of the second half saw the teams trading baskets, but the Racers slowly cut the deficit to as little as three with four triples. After the Eagles pushed the lead back out to nine (70-61) both teams started to hit shots from beyond the arc again for the next two minutes, but MSU was again able to cut the lead down to three as they hit three during the span to Morehead State’s one. Then with 7:24 left on the clock freshman Mariah Robinson tied the game at 75 with a four-point play.

The teams again resumed an offensive battle for the next three minutes before the Racers took a lead on two free throws from Luckett, with 5:03 left to play. Lowe then hit two-straight shots from beyond the arc for MSU to give the Racers a three-point advantage with 3:15 left on the clock (90-87). However, that is when the Eagles stepped up their defense and took advantage of eight free throw chances (making six) that pushed them ahead with an 8-0 run to end the game with the victory.

The Racers out-rebounded Morehead State 40-38 and made 15 triples to its nine, but the difference in the game came at the charity stripe. The Eagles converted on 22-of-26 attempts, while MSU went 11-of-18. Both teams shots over 45 percent for the game, with the Racers hitting 47.8 percent of their shots and Morehead State connecting on 46.4.

Notes: Senior Kayla Vance tallied the first five points for the Racers…MSU had more offensive rebounds against Morehead State in the first half of action tonight then they had in the entire game Feb. 25 (7-4)…the Eagles also tallied more three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of this game then in the last meetings five days ago (6-4)…Kayla Lowe set career highs for 28 points, eight rebounds, 10 field goals, and seven three-pointers made…her seven threes ties for the No. 3 spot for three’s in a game by a Racer…the 15 three’s sets a season best for MSU and ties for the No. 2 spot on the number of three’s in a game by a team.

Quotes

Head Coach Rob Cross

“I don’t believe that we lost the ball game tonight, we lost on the scoreboard. I think it was a great game and one of the more well played games that I have been a part of in this league.”

“Both teams only had 12 turnovers each. For a game that went into the 90’s – that is outstanding.”

“We shot the ball extremely well, but the difference in the game came down to the trips to the free throw line.”

“To come back after being out-rebounded by 25 on this court last Thursday night and out-rebound Morehead State shows an outstanding effort by our team.”

“Our young team finally understood over the last few ball games what it takes to win and compete at the highest level in our conference. We need to make sure that we carry that into the future and that we honor Mallory Luckett, Jasmyne Thornton and Kayla Vance and what they have done for our program.”

“It is a shame the Kayla Lowe had to miss so much of the season, and she has just recently started to get back into game shape. Her injury defiantly hurt our team this year, but those things happen.”

“We have dealt with a lot of adversity this season. We have had a few players battle through some tough injuries, but I am proud of what we were able to accomplish.”

“We lost three games late in the season to the top two teams in the conference and each game came down to the final possession. I think that shows a lot for the growth of our young team.”

“We got a great effort from everyone who got into the game for us tonight.”

“I am proud of the effort tonight and I hope that we carry it forward.”

“The team enjoyed themselves tonight and that is what this game is all about – going out and giving it everything you have and laying it all on the line. Sometimes it is just not enough and tonight was just one of those nights.”

Courtesy MSU Media Relations