Sophomore forward and guard Ke’Shunan James dribbles the ball for an attempted layup during their game against Southeast Missouri State Wednesday.
Story by Mark McFarland, Assistant Sports Editor
The Racers’ offensive struggles continued for Wednesday night when the Redhawk’s outmatched on both ends of the floor by Southeast Missouri Wednesday night.
Murray state lost 96-59 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, but the lid would stay on the basket for the length of the game as the Racers shot just 37 percent.
The trouble began in the first quarter when the Racers hit three baskets and scored only nine points in the quarter. SEMO never looked back as they lead the score the rest of the game, which led four of their players to score in double digits.
Defensively Murray State could not handle the Redhawks offensive threat as sophomore guard Hannah Noe led all scorers with 22 points, and shot 60 percent from three. SEMO was able to finish shooting 53 percent from the floor.
Head Coach Rob Cross said the defense did not follow the game plan he originally called for to guard Noe.
“Defensively we didn’t follow our game plan to start the game,” Cross said. “Hannah Noe’s a very good shooter, she’s been struggling in conference play but we’re supposed to be chasing her off of screens and being there to drive her off the three point line and that didn’t happen.”
The Racers were led by sophomore guard Jasmine Borders with 17 points in the game. Sophomore forward and guard Ke’Shunan James shot 50 percent from the floor and scored 10 points of her own.
Cross said he liked that Borders came out in charge later in the second half and just “played her game.”
“When she got back in there she just went and played,” Cross said. “She got a couple of steals and got some things in transition, got a couple of open shots from a couple of teammates, but the best thing she did was just played.”
The Redhawks were able to score 30 points off the Racers 19 turnovers. Murray State scored just 10 points off SEMO’s 17 turnovers.
The Racers play at 5 p.m. Saturday against Austin Peay State at the CFSB Center, and then will play at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 against Southern Illinois State University Edwardsville at SIUE.