Women fall short after late rally

Lori Allen / The News Taylor Porter (1), freshman guard from Louisa, Ky., is overtaken by an SIUE player during the game there on Saturday.
Lori Allen / The News
Taylor Porter (1), freshman guard from Louisa, Ky., is overtaken by an SIUE player during the game in Edwardsville, Ill. Saturday.

Women’s basketball couldn’t earn its second conference win of the season Saturday night, as the Racers fell to the Cougars of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 71-67.

Despite career highs from freshmen guards Julia Fox and Janssen Starks, the Racer offense struggled to score and could not overcome a second-half deficit.

Murray State fell behind 11-0 in the game’s opening minutes but responded with immediately. Starks put the Racers on the scoreboard and the team caught fire from the 3-point line. The Racers used the 3-point shot often, hitting five of their first seven, to tie the game at 19 with 11 minutes remaining in the opening half.

After the hot starts by both teams, the scoring eased and the teams struggled to score. Murray State claimed its first lead of the game on free throws from freshman guard Julia Fox. The first half ended with Fox scoring as time expired to give the team a 33-29 lead over the Cougars at the half.

Lori Allen / The News Julia Fox (21), freshman guard from Lebanon, Tenn., scores a field goal, adding 2 of her career-high 15 points during the loss against SIUE.
Lori Allen / The News
Julia Fox (21), freshman guard from Lebanon, Tenn., scores a field goal, adding 2 of her career-high 15 points during the loss against SIUE.

SIUE stormed back in the opening minutes of the second half when Murray State turned the ball over four times. The Cougars used an 8-2 run to gain the 43-39 advantage with 13 minutes to play.

After a 3-pointer by Starks gave Murray State a 45-43 lead, SIUE went on a 9-1 run the from which the Racers could not recover. Murray State got within one point with four minutes remaining, but the Cougars responded with a 3-pointer that ended the Racers’ momentum.

Murray State’s final rally came with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to two points, but SIUE free-throws sealed the game and handed the Racers the loss.

Starks led the team with 24 points on 9 of 13 shooting, including a career-high five 3’s. Fox, in her fifth start of the season, added a career-high 15 points in the loss. Senior forward Jessica Winfrey pulled down 14 rebounds, giving her 11 games this season with double-digit rebounds.

Murray State continues its road trip at 7 p.m. Monday against Eastern Illinois.

Staff Report

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