A hot-shooting fourth quarter from Austin Peay and 26 turnovers proved to be too much for the Murray State women’s basketball team to overcome Saturday, as they fell to the Govs, 64-60, at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky.
It was a game of ebbs and flows for Murray State after starting the game hot, especially from 3-point range, where they made their first three attempts. However, after leading after the first quarter, Austin Peay fought back and shot 60-percent from the floor in the second quarter to take 27-26 lead into the locker room at the break.
In the third, Racers seemed to find their offensive stroke, shooting 5-for-8 from the floor in the stanza. Defensively that quarter, the Racers clamped down on Austin Peay and limited them to just 2-of-16 shooting from the floor and 0-for-3 from 3-point range.
However, in the fourth the Govs went off, making seven of nine field goal attempts including 2-of-3 3-pointers. Despite being down by as many as six in the final frame, the Racers were able to tie the game with a little over three minutes left and trailed by only two with 1:19 to play. Eventually, Austin Peay was able to close out the game by going 7-for-8 from the free throw line down the stretch to finish the afternoon at an impressive 21-for-30 clip.
Ella Sawyer and D’Shara came off the bench to lead Austin Peay with 15 and 14, respectively, while Katelyn Young and Macey Turley led Murray State with 15 each. Lex Mayes followed Young and Turley with 14, while Alexis Burpo led MSU in rebounding with 10.
The Racers will now take time off for the Christmas holiday and will return to action Dec. 30 in Nashville against Belmont. Due to the men’s game between the two teams being moved ESPNU, the women’s game will now tip-off at a new start time of 12 p.m.
– SHOES UP –
For more information contact:
Parker Griffith
