Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky trailed by 16 points in the first half and 12 points early in the second half, but closed the deficit to two with just over five minutes remaining before falling to Murray State, 73-61, Thursday at McBrayer Arena.

Sophomore Nadia Mossong led the Lady Colonels (2-4, 0-1 OVC) with 21 points. Ashley Hayes scored a game-high 25 points for the Racers (4-3, 1-0 OVC).

After exchanging baskets in the first minute of the second half, Murray State led by 12, 37-25. Eastern Kentucky scored seven straight, including a three-pointer by Mossong, to get within five with 16:53 remaining in the game.

After the Racers pushed back in front by double digits, 42-32, on a three-pointer by Mallory Schwab and a jumper by Hayes, Mossong and Kayla Drake knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to cut the deficit to four with 12:38 to go.

After shooting 28.6 percent in the first half and committing 11 turnovers, EKU made 14-of-29 second half baskets for 48.3 percent and turned the ball over only eight times.

MSU pushed its lead back to nine on back-to-back baskets by Hayes and a free throw by Amber Guffey, but the Lady Colonels made another run. Ilona Muszak scored five straight, on a trey and a jumper for a 47-43 game with 9:28 showing on the clock.

Murray State scored three straight to move back in front by seven, but Muszak knocked down another three-pointer from the right wing and Cherie White scored on a driving lay-up to make it a 50-48 game with 5:38 remaining.

The Lady Colonels would get no closer. Mallory Luckett knocked down a trey on the other end and a jumper by Hayes put the Racers back in front by eight, 56-48, with 3:53 to play. Mossong’s fourth three-pointer of the game brought it back to five but that is as close as EKU would get. A three-pointer by Paige Guffey capped a 6-0 run and gave the visitors an 11-point lead, 62-51, with 2:24 showing on the clock.

MSU shot 50 percent (25-of-50) for the game. Amber Guffey, Paige Guffey and Luckett each scored 11 points. Hayes added eight rebounds and three steals to her point total.

Mossong had eight rebounds and five assists to go along with her 21 points. Drake made a pair of three-pointers in the final two minutes to finish with 11 points. Junior Colette Cole grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and scored seven points.

The Lady Colonels scored the first basket of the game, but the Racers rolled off 12 straight. With a pair of buckets in the paint and a block, Angela Mullins scored four of MSU’s first eight points. Back-to-back baskets by Hayes gave Murray State a 12-2 lead with 15:05 remaining in the first half.

Two more consecutive jumpers by Hayes extended the Racer lead to 20-6 with 10:43 before intermission. Jasmine Lewin answered for the Lady Colonels at the other end with her first career three-pointer to close the gap to 11.

After another jumper by Hayes pushed it to a 22-9 game, both teams went nearly four minutes without scoring. A three-pointer by Luckett ended the drought and gave MSU a 16-point lead with 6:12 left in the first half. A three-pointer by Hayes kept the Racers in front by 16 with 2:56 before the break. Schwab’s jumper with four seconds on the clock sent the visitors to the locker room ahead by 12, 35-23.

Hayes scored 15 of Murray State’s 35 first half points. MSU shot 51.9 percent from the field while EKU went 8-for-28 (28.6 percent)

The Lady Colonels will be back in action on Saturday for an OVC game against Tennessee-Martin. Tip-off at McBrayer Arena is set for 4 p.m.