Box Score (PDF)
RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior
Shameekia Murray notched 22 second-half points to lead the Eastern Kentucky University women's basketball team to a come-from-behind 70-64 win over in-state rival Morehead State on Saturday afternoon in McBrayer Arena.
Murray was held scoreless in the first half, only to come back and hit 7-of-10 shots (70 percent) in the second half to finish as the EKU's (9-14, 4-9 OVC) leading scorer.
Morehead State (11-15, 7-6 OVC) led by 10 at halftime, 34-24, but EKU exploded out of the gates in the second half, going on a 14-4 run to tie the game at 38-38 with 13:47 remaining. Junior
Miranda Maples got the rally going with a layup and Murray finished it with six consecutive buckets. The transfer from South Georgia Technical College scored 12 of EKU's first 14 points of the half to get the Colonels back in it.
At the 10:30 mark of the second half, sophomore
Nicole Bowers buried a three-pointer to give EKU its first lead since early in the game, 43-40. The Colonels never trailed again.
It was not without difficulty, though. Morehead State responded with a run of its own, and a three-pointer by Almesha Jones tied the game, 60-60, with three minutes remaining. However, Murray buried a baseline jumper on EKU's ensuing possession to re-give the Colonels the lead and junior
Shelly Harper sank four free throws in the last 11 seconds of the game to secure the EKU victory.
In all, EKU made all 18 of its free throws in the second half and 20 straight free throws to end the game.
EKU shot 29.6 percent (8-of-27) in the first half, but shot 50 percent (13-of-26) in the final 20 minutes of play. The Colonels also forced Morehead State into 15 second-half turnovers.
Harper finished with 12 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Bowers came off the bench to go 3-of-3 from three-point range and score a season-high nine points. She had not hit a three-pointer in her career before Saturday's contest.
Jones paced Morehead State with 16 points and eight assists, while Casey Ryans finished with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) for the Eagles.
EKU returns to action on Monday when the Colonels host Jacksonville State at 1:00 p.m. at McBrayer Arena.
