Senior forward Jessica Winfrey prepares to shoot over a Tennessee Tech defender.
The women’s basketball team has yet to find its stride in OVC play, as the team lost 81-65 Monday to Tennessee Tech.
Though they led by two points late in the first half, the Racers started to fall behind before halftime.
A late run by the Golden Eagles gave Tennessee Tech a double-digit halftime lead, draining energy from Murray State.
“It was a major difference,” Racer Head Coach Rob Cross said. “We came out in the second half and had no energy at all offensively or defensively.”
Hot shooting by the Golden Eagles allowed them to jump out to a big lead in the opening minutes of the game.
Murray State battled back immediately and got within a basket with the help of back-to-back 3-pointers from freshmen guards Julia Fox and Taylor Porter.
From there, the teams traded baskets evenly over the next few minutes. Finally, a layup from freshman guard Janssen Starks gave Murray State its first lead of the game.
It was short-lived, though, as Tennessee Tech broke open the game, scoring 11 points while holding the Racers to a single bucket.
“We fought and we were right there and then (Tennessee Tech) goes on that run to end the half,” Cross said. “Maybe it had an impact psychologically.”
The second half was a continuation of the end of the first, as the Racers’ offense was in a slump.
Without the Racers scoring, Tennessee Tech opened the half on a 17-4 run to lead 58-38 within five minutes.
Down 77-55 with three minutes remaining, the Racers’ offense started clicking, and the Racers trimmed the lead to 12.
However, the deficit proved too large to overcome, and a 3-pointer by Tennessee Tech ended the comeback, leaving the Racers with their fourth home-court loss.
The Racers were led by Porter’s career-high 18 points. Starks added 15 points, and the two guards combined for eight assists.
“As a combo, that was probably their best game they had played,” Cross said. “Porter is starting to understand and eliminate some of the mistakes that she was making (early in the season).”
The game serves as the midpoint for the Racers’ conference schedule.
With three players out for the season due to injuries, Cross said the team must focus on the importance of every play.
“Every possession matters and your career is short,” Cross said. “It is hard to get that across with a player until her senior year, but the game can be taken away from you in a snap.”
The Racers return to action Feb. 10 on the road against Tennessee State.
Story by Tom Via, Staff writer