Gage Johnson
Sports Editor
Coming off a last-second win against the University of Evansville, Murray State women’s basketball outshot Indiana State University from the charity stripe en route to a 70-62 win.
The Racers shot 26-for-34—getting to the free throw line at will—while the Sycamores shot just 11-for-26 from the line. The win puts Murray State at 6-2 for the best start in program history since 2008 and its five-game winning streak is its longest streak since 2009.
It was a defensive showcase in the opening moments of the first quarter, as both teams went scoreless for three minutes after Indiana State gained a 7-4 lead.
The Racers’ struggles from deep were a major contribution to this scoreless period, as they went 0-for-8 from deep in the first quarter to go along with eight first-quarter turnovers.
The Sycamores went on a 7-0 run to close out the first quarter, taking a 16-10 lead into the second quarter.
However, an impressive offensive output in the second quarter for Murray State propelled them past Indiana State going into halftime.
The Racers shot 8-for-16 from the field and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc while holding the Sycamores to 13 points to take a 34-27 lead going into the locker room.
It was a back-and-forth affair for the remainder of the game, with the game coming down to the wire in the fourth quarter.
It was second-half three-point and free throw shooting that allowed Murray State to come away with a 70-62 victory. The Racers shot 4-for-10 from three and went 14-for-14 from the charity stripe, while holding Indiana State to 1-for-9 from beyond the arc and 6-for-16 from the free throw line.
Sophomore guard Lex Mayes was Murray State’s key contributor when it came to three-point shooting against the Sycamores. Mayes shot 4-for-13 from beyond the arc and though that may not be the percentage Mayes wants, Head Coach Rechelle Turner wants the sophomore guard to let it fly.
“Shooters shoot,” Turner said. “That’s what we told Lex all night long. You know when you’re not making them and you’re used to making them, you kind of come over to the bench in the first media timeout with the long face. She kept shooting and then made big, big shots.”
Mayes finished the night with 21 points, while sophomore guard Macey Turley led all scorers with 23 points to go with six rebounds and six assists.
Fellow Murray native sophomore forward Alexis Burpo was also all over the stat sheet, scoring eight points and grabbing nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block.
Burpo has made vast strides since last year, becoming an aggressive and energetic offensive player as well as the occasional point guard, and her former Murray High School teammate Mayes is all for it.
“She’s out here hooping like high school Burpo,” Mayes said. “I think she may have struggled a little more her first year here, but she’s found her comfort zone and she’s helping us win a lot, so we’re really proud of her.”
Sophomore forward Sadie Hill was also a major factor for the Racers off the bench, scoring eight points on 8-for-10 free throw shooting, grabbing eight rebounds and one steal as well.
Hill has been working her way back from an ACL injury since joining Murray State and Turner is proud of the effort she and her teammates put forth.
“Sadie Hill is a perfect example of a kid that’s undersized, still coming off an ACL nowhere near 100 percent, but she’s got fight in her,” Turner said. “All the kids that play and are on the floor in those crucial situations step up and make plays.”
The Racers will hit the road for their next matchup against Southern Illinois University, looking to defeat the Salukis for the first time since Dec. 1, 2012. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, in Carbondale, Illinois.
