MONDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 80, @Eastern Illinois 71
@Austin Peay 76, SIUE 55
MURRAY STATE 80, EASTERN ILLINOIS 71
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Murray State women’s basketball team withstood a fourth quarter rally by Eastern Illinois and held on for an 80-71 win Monday at Lantz Arena in Charleston.
Murray State fell behind 14-5 to start the game, but ended the first quarter on an 18-2 run.
The Racers led at the end of each quarter Monday to move to 10-0 when leading after the first, 11-1 when leading after the second and 12-1 when leading after the third.
Murray State led by 12 at the end of the third, but EIU was able to trim the lead to one with just under three minutes to play. However, the Racers did what they are known for and closed out the game at the free throw line by going 6-for-6 in the final 21 seconds of the game.
Monday marked the first time since Dec. 8, 2020 against Mississippi Valley that Murray State has had five players score double digits. Katleyn Young and Macey Turley led the way with 18, while Hannah McKay and Alexis Burpo had 14 and Lex Mayes added 11.
After dishing out just five assists in the loss at Belmont, Murray State returned to form Monday by assisting on 23 of 30 made baskets. McKay led the Racers with five assists on the afternoon, while Turley added four
With Turley’s second assist of the game, she became just the second player in MSU history to score 1,500 career points and tally 400 career assists. The only other Racer to accomplish the feat is current Racer assistant coach Amber Guffey.
Murray State was also impressive from 3-point range Monday, finishing the game at 8-for-17. Turley went 4-for-6 from beyond the arc, while Mayes was 3-for-4.
In her second straight start and fifth of the season, EIU's Julia Bengtson led all scorers with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. She also recorded six rebounds and four assists, both career highs. Jordyn Hughes also scored in double figures for the Panthers with 14. Kira Arthofer had eight points, four rebounds, and three assists while Miah Monahan and Lariah Washington each scored seven. Washington also grabbed six rebounds.
AUSTIN PEAY 76, SIUE 55
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - In an Ohio Valley Conference makeup game from Jan. 6, Austin Peay upended SIUE women's basketball 76-55 Monday night at the Winfield Dunn Center.
The Cougars dropped to 6-9 overall and 2-2 in the OVC. Austin Peay improved to 11-5 overall and 4-2 in the OVC.
Jaida Hampton led SIUE in scoring off the bench with 14 points. Allie Troeckler and Prima Chellis added nine each.
The Cougars were able to get some minutes for Gabby Nikitinaite and Mikayla Kinnard, who haven't seen action since the second game of OVC play Jan. 1. Masyn McWilliams also returned to the floor for the first time since the Kansas game Nov. 10.
Austin Peay shot 50 percent or better in all four quarters and shot 51.7 percent (30-58) from the field. Yamia Johnson led the Governors with 19 points. Karle Pace, a fifth-year transfer from Eastern Illinois, scored 15, and De'Shara Booker added 12.