MSU took down the Lady Govs 98-84 in aa huge conference road win. Murray State women’s basketball took only their second win in program history at Clarksville, Tennessee in an important game for the Racers.
The game started off as most rivalry games would, with both teams fighting for the lead. Austin Peay (8-16, 5-6 OVC) took a quick 6-0 start, but Murray State (7-17, 2-9 OVC) went on a 7-0 run to take a 7-6 lead. The game was tied 13-13, but the Racers made some big stops on defense and had three big offensive plays. Ke’Shunan James, Keiona Kirby, and Netanya Jackson made the basket and tried to make it a three-point play. MSU then took a 19-15 lead. Both teams remained close and tried to gain an advantage over the other, but going into the locker room Murray State had a 43-38 advantage.
[adsenseyu3]
James had 17 points in the first half, the most in a half by her all season. James also led the team with six rebounds, while the team has 23. The 43 point scored in the first half is the most since the Brescia game on Dec. 30.
The Murray State-Austin Peay rivalry was in full effect in the second half. Everything both teams did seemed faster, stronger, and more intense than the first half. Both teams wanted that OVC win, and a chance to say they beat the other. MSU remained in control for the whole second half. Austin Peay had a lot of foul trouble in the second half, and the worst of it coming when Tiasha Gray and Brianne Alexander fouled out after scoring a combined 43 points for the Lady Govs. Murray State ran away with it at the end and took a 98-84 road win.
James led the Racers with a career-high 31 points. Kirby and Jackson added 19 and 16 points respectively. The team grabbed 40 rebounds compared to Austin Peay’s 35, which makes the Racers 5-3 when they outrebound their opponent this season. James tied her career-high six assists, and seven free-throws made, while Jackson tied her career-high three assists.
Murray State will be back to defend the Bank against SIU Edwardsville Thursday at 5 p.m.
Comments
