Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky had a 13-point lead early in the second half, but Murray State shot 48 percent in the second half and scored 30 points off 22 EKU turnovers to leave Richmond with a 79-64 victory.

EKU (12-16, 8-10 OVC) will play on the road Tuesday in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Eastern did not qualify for the conference tournament last season after finishing league play in ninth place with a 4-14 record. Head coach Chrissy Roberts’ team has doubled their number of OVC victories from last season.

Alex Jones led the Lady Colonels with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Senior Colette Cole added 10 points and seven rebounds on Senior Day. Mallory Schwab scored a team-best 16 points off the bench for Murray State (13-16, 8-10 OVC). Rachael Isom added 15 for the Racers.

A three-pointer by Shakeyia Colyer with 4:12 left in the first half gave the Lady Colonels an eight point advantage, 29-21. Murray State drew within three on a jumper by Kayla Lowe with 3:35 on the clock, but the Racers didn’t score again the rest of the half. EKU scored the final six points and took a nine-point lead, 35-26, into the locker room at the break.

Two of the Lady Colonels’ six points came from a pair of free throws by Jones. The freshman was fouled hard on a drive to the basket and fell to the floor. She limped to the free throw line and knocked down both attempts before going to the bench.

Jones had 12 points, nine boards and three steals at the break.

Eastern Kentucky scored six of the first eight points of the second half to take a double digit lead, 41-28. Back-to-back three-pointers by Brittany Coles to start the half stretched the lead to 13.

A free throw by Jones at the 15:59 mark kept the margin at 13, 44-31, but the Racers scored 11 straight to get back in the game. Mallory Schwab and Tessa Elkins knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, and Schwab hit three free throws to make it a two-point game, 44-42, with 14:25 left to play. MSU completed the comeback with a three-pointer by Mariah Robinson that tied the game at 47-47 with 11:53 to go. Murray State capped its 18-3 run and took the lead on a pair of free throws by Isom.

The Racers never trailed after a lay-up by Jessica Holder with 8:22 left to play.

Winners of Tuesday’s first round tournament games will advance to the OVC final four at Bridgestone Arena (formerly the Sommet Center) in Nashville, Tenn.

Notes
EKU dropped to 7-1 this season when scoring 60 or more points.

Freshman Alex Jones recorded her seventh double-double. She now has the eighth most double-doubles in a career (Note: Double-double records available since 1988).

In the first meeting this season between the two teams, Murray State shot 26.2 percent from the field. On Saturday the Racers shot 44.3 percent.

Eastern Kentucky has out-rebounded 18 of its 28 opponents this season.

EKU leads the all-time series with Murray State 50-28. Murray State has won eight of the last 10 games between the two teams. Eastern is now 24-13 against the Racers in Richmond.