Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky escaped with a 62-61 win after a shot by Murray State as the horn sounded bounced off the rim.

A jumper by Kyra Watson with 41.8 seconds left got the Racers within one.  EKU ran the shot clock down but missed on a lay-up with 15 ticks to go.  Kayla Lowe had hit five three-pointers, but her leaning jumper from the top of the key bounced off the rim as time ran out.

The Lady Colonels (8-7, 4-1 OVC) used a 16-3 run to take an 11-point lead midway through the second half.  Eastern scored eight unanswered to start the run as Murray State went almost five minutes without scoring.  A steal by Marie Carpenter led to a lay-up by Jalisa Bryant to finish it off and put the visitors on top 54-43 with 8:12 showing on the clock.

MSU (4-11, 1-3 OVC) didn’t fold.  The Racers scored 11 unanswered to force a tie.  Back-to-back three-pointers by Mariah Robinson polished off the run and knotted the score 54-54 with 4:19 to play.  The game remained close the rest of the way.

Carpenter led Eastern with 15 points.  Jasmine Stovall contributed a career-best 14 to go along with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals.  Alex Jones had 12 rebounds to move into a tie for ninth place on EKU’s career rebound list.

Robinson had a game-best 19 for Murray State.  Lowe finished with 15 and Erica Burgess scored 14.

MSU hit 10-of-27 three-point attempts, but shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half.  EKU out-rebounded the Racers 48-41 and turned 14 offensive rebounds into 14 second chance points.

The Lady Colonels will return to action on Saturday at rival Morehead State.  Tip-off in Morehead is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.