Jakob Milani
Sports Editor
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The Murray State women’s basketball team opened their season with a 79-40 win over the Asbury University Eagles on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Sophomore forwards Katelyn Young and Hannah McKay led the way for the Racers with 20 points and 16 points respectively.

The Eagles took an early lead with a layup from sophomore forward Trinity Shearer, but McKay answered with a layup of her own. Sophomore forward Taylor Paige went back down the court and made a three-point shot to make it 5-2 Eagles.

From there, the Racers went on a long 17-0 run that started with a mid-range jump shot from Young, who made the next four shots as well. Senior forward Alexis Burpo and sophomore forward Charlee Settle added to the run with a pair of layups, while McKay made a layup of her own. 

Senior guard Macey Turley made a three-point basket to end the run and put the Racers up 19-5.

The scoring didn’t stop there though as senior guard Lex Mayes hit a three-pointer to end the first quarter with the Racers up 26-7.

The Eagles came out swinging in the second quarter with five quick points from graduate forward Autumn Herriford to make it 26-12 in favor of the Racers.

That was all the scoring the Eagles could manage in the quarter, as the Racers went on a 17-0 run to end the half.

The run started with a layup from Young, then back-to-back baskets from McKay. Freshman forward Jaidah Black scored her first bucket as a Racer during the run with a layup assisted by freshman guard Cayson Conner.

The Racers finished the half with two more layups from McKay and a three-pointer from Mayes. As the two teams headed to the locker room at halftime, the Racers led the Eagles 45-12.

McKay led the Racers in points in the first half with 14, followed by Young with 11 points. McKay, Young and Burpo all had six rebounds in the half, while Burpo tallied five assists.

Herriford and Taylor led the Eagles with five points each. The Eagles only recorded 18 rebounds in the half and just two assists.

Paige and Herriford were the first to score in the third quarter with a pair of mid-range jump shots. The Racers came right back with a three-pointer from Turley and a pair of free-throws from Young to make it 51-16 Racers.

Shearer answered with a layup, followed by a three-pointer from junior guard Jaclynn Ruble to make it 51-21 Racers.

Young made a layup on the Racers next possession but Herriford went back down the court to hit a three-pointer. Conner answered that with a three of her own which marked her first basket as a Racer. The three-pointer put the Racers up 56-24.

The Eagles managed to hold the Racers scoreless for the next 3:13 while  scoring six points of their own with a three-pointer from senior forward Sarah Dennison and another three from sophomore forward Spencer Harvey. The two three-pointers cut the Racers lead by six and made it 56-30.

The Racers drought ended with a pair of free throws by Young. The Eagles had an answer, though, as Harvey was able to make a mid-range jumper on the other end of the court to make it 58-32 Racers.

Burpo ended the quarter with an and-one play by making a layup and getting fouled in the process. She made her free throw and that marked the end of the third quarter with the Racers up 61-32.

The Racers were the first to score in the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups from Young and McKay. Shearer answered with a three-pointer on the other end, but Turley kept the momentum in the Racers’ favor with a mid-range jumper to make it 67-32.

Dennison was able to make a quick layup over a defender, then Harvey knocked down a three pointer to try to get some offense going for the Eagles.

Those would be the last of the Eagles points, however, as the Racers closed out the game on a 12-0 run with points from Black, freshman guard Claira McGowan and junior forward Isabell West. The Racers defeated the Eagles by a score of 79-40.

Young led the way for the Racers with 20 points and 14 rebounds, her first double-double of the season. McKay scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Turley tallied 10 points and two assists, while Burpo scored seven points, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists.

Herriford led the Eagles with 10 points and four rebounds. Taylor and Shearer followed closely behind with seven points each.

Head Coach Rochelle Turner spoke postgame about how well the team played. She said the team will always take a win for their first game of the season. 

“Anytime you can get a first win of the season, especially at home, you’ll take that,” Turner said. “I wasn’t extremely thrilled with our execution in the second half but those things happen.”

The Racers started their season 1-0 and continue their season on Thursday, Nov. 11 as they travel to take on the University of Missouri. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.