SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 88, @Jacksonville State 68
@Southeast Missouri 71, Austin Peay 57
SIUE 73, @Eastern Kentucky 69 (OT)
Murray State 82, @UT Martin 72
Eastern Illinois 78, @Morehead State 58
@Tennessee Tech 58, Belmont 52
TENNESSEE STATE 88, JACKSONVILLE STATE 68
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State sophomore Marikate Gardler poured in a career-high 22 points in an 86-68 loss to Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon in Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball action at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Gardler, a transfer from Jefferson College in Missouri, scored 15 of her 22 points in the final 20 minutes of the contest. It marked her highest scoring total in her collegiate career. The Springfield, Pa.-native was 7-of-13 from the field, including a trio of three-point baskets. It marked the second outing of the season in which she has posted double figures in the scoring column as she turned in ten points at Georgia State. Gardler was a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line and also had a pair of steals in 31 minutes of action.
Gardler's first of three treys gave the Gamecocks (0-15, 0-3 OVC) their first and only lead of the contest at 7-5 at the 17:18 mark of the game. From the basket on it was TSU the rest of the way as it would build a double digit lead by intermission. The Lady Tigers, leading 28-27 with 7:11 left in the opening half, stormed out to a 41-27 lead after a 13-0 scoring run over a three-minute period. TSU would take a 48-33 lead into the halftime break. The Blue and White turned 15 Jax State first half miscues into 18 points on the other end and had 12 of its 14 fast break points in the opening period.
TSU's tandem of Jasmin Shuler and Kesi Hess combined for 23 points in the first half as Hess would equal Gardler for game-high scoring marks with 22 points. Hess was 6-of-8 from behind the three-point arc. As a team, TSU posted a 60 percent shooting mark in the first half and cooled off slightly in the second half, knocking down 14-of-30 from the field. TSU finished the day shooting 53 percent from the field.
The Lady Tigers extended the double digit lead out to 20 points by the 16:47 mark of the second half and eventually lead by as many as 27 points at 86-59 with just under two minutes left in the game. JSU scored the final seven points of the contest for the final 20-point margin.
Jax State sophomore Briana Morrow turned in her second consecutive double digit OVC outing of the year with 14 points. The Nashville, Tenn.-product reached double figures by halftime with 11 points in the first half. Morrow also led all Gamecocks in rebounding with eight in a career-best 34 minutes. Gia Banks came off the bench to record a career-high nine points and six rebounds. Candace Morton added eight points in the setback.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 71, AUSTIN PEAY 57
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Jordan Hunter scored 16 of her career-high 21 points in the second half to lead the balanced Southeast Missouri women's basketball team to a 71-57 win over Austin Peay on Saturday.
Four Redhawks (6-8, 1-1 Ohio Valley) scored in double figures to snap their three-game losing streak.
APSU's (5-8, 0-1 OVC) Alexis Hardaway scored the game's first points on a layup during the Lady Govs' second possession. Southeast countered with a Hunter three-pointer that made it 3-2 Redhawks just one minute in.
After another Hardaway layup put the Lady Govs back in front, Hunter made two free throws to make it 5-4 Redhawks at the 17:16 mark. A Patricia Mack jumper, an Allyson Bradshaw layup, a Kara Wright jumper and a Brittany Harriel layup put Southeast up 13-4 as part of a 13-2 run.
The Lady Govs rallied back with nine-straight points, evening the score at 13 apiece. The last five points of the run came in a 16-second span as Tiasha Gray made a three-pointer and Leslie Martinez recorded a steal and scored on the break to even the score with 10:15 left in the half.
Bailie Roberts responded by nailing a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and Bradshaw found her long range shot from the corner just under a minute later to make it 19-15 at the 9:02 mark.
The Lady Govs pulled within 21-19 two minutes later, but the Redhawks came out of a media timeout with six-straight points after Roberts hit two free throws and Harriel made a layup and a jumper. After an APSU free throw, Harriel stepped outside and hit a three-pointer to give Southeast a 30-20 lead 4:46 left.
APSU scored five-straight points to cut Southeast's lead to 30-25, but Harriel got to the basket for a layup and Wright made a pull up jumper to extend the lead to nine again. After Kristen Stainback made a jumper with 1:08 left, Harriel got three points the old fashioned way, scoring through contact and making a free throw to make it 37-27 going into halftime. Harriel scored 14 points in the first half, her best overall total in any game this season.
The Lady Govs came out of the locker room to score the first five points of the second half on a Meghan Bussabarger layup and a Nicole Olszewski three-pointer, making it 37-32 in favor of the Redhawks.
Hunter broke the slump by driving for a layup at the 18:32 mark to put Southeast back up seven points. Two minutes later, Hardaway's jumper rattled in and pulled APSU within five points once again.
With Southeast leading 41-36, Harriel scored in the low block and Roberts drilled a three from the wing to extend its lead back to 10 points. Jennifer Nwokocha made a layup on the next APSU possession, but Roberts hit a baseline jumper that extended the lead to 48-38 with under 12 minutes to play.
Hunter's jumper put the Redhawks up by 12 points at 50-38. The Lady Govs scored five in a row that made it a seven point game. Undeterred, Roberts found Hunter cutting to the basket on a set play, the junior scored through a foul and hit the ensuing free throw to up the lead to double digits again. That play started a 12-2 Southeast run that put it up 62-45 with five minutes remaining. The Lady Govs did not get any closer than 14 points the rest of the way and the Redhawks led by as many as 18 points.
Southeast shot a season-best 47.4 percent from the field and went 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from three-point range. The Redhawks held the Lady Govs to 37.3 percent shooting, including a 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) mark from long range. Southeast enjoyed a 37-35 advantage in rebounding and its bench outscored APSU's 31-14. Both teams made 10-of-14 (71.4 percent) free throws and each squad also committed 17 turnovers.
Hunter made 8-of-16 shots from the field and dished out six assists while grabbing five rebounds and recording two steals. Harriel finished with a season-high 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Roberts (12 points) and Bradshaw (10) also scored in double figures. With starting posts Courtney Shiffer and Patricia Mack battling foul trouble, Connor King led Southeast with seven rebounds in 14 minutes. Wright recorded four of Southeast's 10 steals.
Hardaway led APSU with 11 points and nearly posted a double-double with nine rebounds. Olszewski and Bussabarger each scored 10 points for the Lady Govs. Martinez led all players with 14 rebounds.
SIUE 71, EASTERN KENTUCKY 69
RICHMOND, Ky. - Visiting SIUE picked up its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season thanks to a 73-69 overtime decision over the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team Saturday afternoon in McBrayer Arena.
SIUE (7-7, 1-1 OVC) snapped a three-game losing skid with the victory and has now won four straight meetings over Eastern Kentucky (7-6, 1-1).
After senior Brittany Coles connected on a lay-up with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force the extra session, the Cougars opened overtime with a 7-1 spurt and never looked back.
Tierny Austin equaled her career high with 18 points to pace SIUE. Three other Cougars finished in double figures including Raven Berry, who chipped in with 15 points and four steals
Senior Jade Barber posted team highs in both points (18) and rebounds (nine) for Eastern. The Lady Colonels committed a season-high 29 turnovers in the loss.
Eastern Kentucky never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 10 points, 26-16, following a Coles jumper. However, SIUE ended the half on a 9-2 run to cut the gap to just two points at intermission, 34-32. The Lady Colonels shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) in the first 20 minutes, but also committed 14 turnovers.
SIUE took its first lead of the contest early in the second half, 36-35, behind a Berry tip-in. The two teams stayed within four points of each other the rest of regulation.
Courtney Kenner’s basket with 35 seconds on the clock put the Cougars in front, 57-55. On Eastern’s final possession of regulation, Coles drove down the left side of the court and netted the tying lay-in with just 2.1 seconds left.
SIUE made 14-of-20 (70 percent) free throw attempts in overtime to earn the victory.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 78, MOREHEAD STATE 58
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Visiting Eastern Illinois drained 13 buckets from three-point range Saturday night and shot 50 percent at Johnson Arena as the Panthers handed the host Morehead State women’s basketball team a 78-58 defeat.
EIU, which entered the game averaging six three-pointers per game, moved to 8-6 overall and 2-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. MSU fell to 4-11 overall and 0-1 in the league. The Panthers were 13-of-24 from long range.
MSU junior guard Terrice Robinson led all players with 20 points, her team-high 12th game in double figures. Robinson, who ranks fourth in the conference in points per contest, has scored 56 in the last three games now. Sophomore guard Almesha Jones scored 15 points, draining five three-pointers.
Katlyn Payne was 5-of-8 from distance to lead EIU with 17 points. Mariah King tallied 15, and Kelsey Wyss knocked down three of her four three-point attempts for 11 points. The Panthers totaled 20 assists, led by seven from Wyss and six from Ta’Kenya Nixon. EIU also held a 40-23 advantage in the rebounding department. EIU's Sabina Oroszova grabbed a game-high seven boards.
MSU held a 13-11 lead at the 13:50 mark of the opening half following a Robinson trey, but the Panthers put together a 7-0 run and never trailed the remainder of the game. Five of the Panthers’ final six field goals in the half counted for three points, and EIU took a 38-26 lead to intermission. The visitors shot 58 percent (14-of-24) overall in the half and hit 80 percent (8-of-10) from beyond the arc.
EIU opened the second half on a 10-2 run and ran its advantage to as much as 26 at the 13:32 mark.
MSU hit 12 three-pointers itself, but the Eagles turned the ball over 15 times leading to a 23-11 advantage for EIU in points via mistakes. The Panthers also outscored the hosts 15-8 at the free throw line.
TENNESSEE TECH 58 BELMONT 52
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech women’s basketball team took over first place in the Ohio Valley Conference East Division and remained one of only two unbeaten teams in the league in conference play by outlasting a challenge from Belmont Saturday in Eblen Center and claiming a tough, 58-52 victory.
The Golden Eagles (8-7/2-0 OVC) withstood a late rally by the Bruins (7-8/2-1 OVC), who came into the fray with an unblemished league mark.
Diamond Henderson led all scorers with 17 points for the Golden Eagles. T’Keyah Williams added 13 points, six rebounds and three steals while Jala Harris contributed 12 points, five rebounds and five assists. Molly Heady also had a solid effort with eight points and seven rebounds.
Molly Ernst and Jordyn Luffman topped Belmont with 10 points each, while Katie Brooks added eight points and four assists. Brooks scored six of her eight points in spearheading Belmont’s rally in the final three minutes. Torie Vaught added nine points and Jordan Coleman led the Bruins on the boards with six rebounds.
Tech owned a lead the entire second half, and was up by six, 51-45, with 3:39 to play after Williams drove to the hoop and hit a layup.
Brooks dropped in back-to-back jumpers from the free throw line in the next minute to pull the Bruins within a basket, 51-49, and the senior guard knocked down two free throws with 1:51 remaining to tie the game at 51-51.
Williams lifted Tech on top , 52-51, with a free throw with 1:24 left and added two more free throws with 51 seconds to play, nudging Tech’s lead to three points, 54-51.
Adrienne Tarrence hit one free throw with 34 seconds left to make it a two-point game, but Lashay Davis was perfect at the line in her two chances with 19.7 seconds to regain Tech’s four-point edge, 56-52. Harris added the final two free throws with six seconds for the final margin.
The Golden Eagles limited Belmont to 15 points for the first 18:58 of the opening half, allowing just one offensive rebound and 28 percent shooting. Three Bruin free throws in the final minute made it an eight-point Golden Eagle lead at the intermission, 26-18.
Tech’s offense, meanwhile, fared a little better while forging a double-figure lead in the first half with balanced scoring and a solid rebounding edge.
After Belmont had claimed an 8-7 lead seven minutes into the contest, Tech responded with a 10-0 run to claim a 17-8 lead. The run started with a layup by Williams and lasted through a 3-pointer by Harris.
With Harris and Williams each scoring six, and Tech going 8-for-10 at the free throw line, the Golden Eagles were up 26-15 with 1:18 to play. Tech owned a 25-15 rebound advantage in the opening 20 minutes, overcoming 34.8 percent shooting and nine turnovers.
Tech shot 42.1 percent in the second half and 38.1 percent for the game (16-for-42). The Golden Eagles were 23-for-29 (79.3 percent) at the foul line. Belmont improved dramatically in the second half to shoot 54.5 percent, finishing the game with a 37.3 percent mark. The Bruins were 10-for-16 at the line.
Tech owned a final 38-27 advantage in rebounds.
MURRAY STATE 82, UT MARTIN 72
MARTIN, Tenn. - It had been three years and one day since the Murray State women’s basketball team had last beaten UT Martin and exactly four years since they had done so on the road, on Saturday both droughts came to an end, as the Racers topped the Skyhawks, 82-72, at the Elam Center in Martin.
The other highlight of the game came from senior Mariah Robinson, as she became Murray State’s all time leader in 3-pointers made with her third made three of the game. Robinson now has 212 for her career, breaking former teammate Amber Guffey’s record of 2010, set in 2009.
The game was tight was from the get go, as neither team led by more than seven in the first half. Each team led for large chunks of the opening frame, but it was the Racers (8-5, 1-1) who took a 39-38 lead into the locker room thanks to layup with under a minute remaining from Keiona Kirby.
The Racers were led in the opening frame by freshman Bianca Babic. Babic provided much needed momentum by notching a career-high 10 points in the first half.
In the second half, the Skyhawks (6-10, 1-1) came out and immediately re-took the lead with a jumper from Heather Butler, who finished with 19 points. Robinson and Butler traded the next two scores, leaving UT Martin with a one-point advantage. With 18:15 left in the game, freshman Erika Sisk hit a 3-pointer to give the Racers a two-point lead, one which they never relinquished.
With 7:13 left in the game, a basket from UT Martin’s Shelby Crawford cut the lead to just two. From there, the Racers went on a 12-1 run that put them up 13 and virtually sealed the win; as they went on to win by 10.
The Racers outshot the Skyhawks from the floor in the game, 41.4 percent to 39.7, and out rebounded them, 44-41. While MSU did commit one more turnover than UT Martin, 15-14, the Racers took better advantage of their opponent’s miscues, outscoring the Skyhawks, 20-12, on turnovers.
Robinson led Murray State on the night with a game-high 26 points, to go along with six rebounds, six assists and five steals. Sisk followed behind with 16, while Kirby notched her second-consecutive double-digit performance with 12. Tessa Elkins has 11 and Babic had 10, to round out a season-high five Racers with 10-plus points.
Freshman Kelsey Dirks pulled down a game-high nine boards to go along with seven points, while Jessica Winfrey had eight rebounds of her own.
Jasmine Newsome led the Skyhawks with 25 points while Rickiesha Bryant added 10 points.