Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State freshman forward Ashar Harris pulled down 22 rebounds - the fifth best game total in school history - and the Eagles placed five players in double figures as MSU held off Lipscomb 62-53 Saturday at Johnson Arena on the second day of the MSU Invitational.
The Eagles improved to 2-2 with the win, while Lipscomb dipped to 1-4.
Harris, in only her fourth collegiate game, grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, eight defensive boards, and also completed her second career double-double with 11 points in 31 minutes. Senior Tiffany Hamilton led MSU with 14 points, Courtney Lumpkin totaled 13 points and a team high six assists, Sophomore Abby Steele scored a career high 11 points off the bench, and Chynna Bozeman reached double figures for the 47th time in her career with 10. The Eagles held a 53-33 rebounding edge and won for the second consecutive day shooting less than 30 percent for the game.
"I am very happy with how hard we played, and we played really well defensively," said head coach Mike Bradbury. " We rebounded the ball the best we have in the last three days. When you don't shoot well, you still have to find a way to win and we have done that with rebounding. This is a team that is growing up and coming together to fight through adversity."
One night after setting a school and OVC record with 49 three-point attempts, the Eagles launched 32 from long range today, hitting eight. MSU leads the nation in three-pointers attempted per game. Lipscomb, meanwhile, drained 11 treys on 28 shots. Overall MSU shot just 28 percent (19-of-67) but grabbed 23 of their 53 rebounds off the offensive glass. Steele gave MSU a spark when it needed it in the first half, connecting on a trio of triples for nine points in the first 20 minutes.
Lipscomb was led by Jenna Bartsokas with 14 points. She hit four of her five three-point attempts.
The Eagles ran out to a 15-6 lead at the 14:30 mark of the first half, but the Lady Bisons would not go quietly. Lipscomb went on a 9-4 run and climbed back to within one (19-18) with 7:41 remaining in the opening half. The Eagles got it back out to a 26-18 lead after a Harris layup at the 4:03 point on the clock, but once again Lipscombn rallied. With 1:55 left, it was a 29-28 MSU lead. The Eagles led 33-28 at halftime.
A three-pointer by Tiffany Hamilton with 13:08 left in the game pushed MSU's lead to its largest at 44-31. Lipscomb trimmed its deficit back to six on six occasions but that was as close as the Eagles allowed the game to get.
Morehead State concludes the three-day MSU Invitational on Sunday versus Winston Salem State at 3:30 p.m.
