Box Score
Box Score (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. - After a sluggish first half that saw the host Morehead State women's basketball team leading only by 11 over NAIA foe Kentucky Christian Monday night, the Eagles turned up the full court pressure defense in the final 20 minutes, forcing 28 total turnovers for the game and pulling away for a 78-44 win over the Lady Knights.
Morehead State, which won its fifth straight game for its longest winning streak since 2006-07, also improved to 8-3. The 11-game start is the third best since 1981-82 and the best since an 10-1 opening mark in 2001-02. The Eagles also improved to 5-1 at home and have now won eight of the last nine games.
"The first half we were low on energy," said head coach Mike Bradbury, whose team defeated a scrappy Detroit team Sunday afternoon. "In the second half our energy was better, and it really started about 10 minutes into the final half. We needed to do it (pressure defense) to get some energy going."
KCU did not hit a field goal in the final seven minutes and 20 seconds of the game.
The Eagles led 36-25 at the half and it ballooned to 18 (53-35) with 11:59 left in the contest. From the 10:21 mark to the 4:10 mark, MSU outscored KCU 17-7 to lead 73-44. The largest lead was the final margin as senior Connie Buchanan hit her first career three-pointer in the last second. MSU forced 15 second half turnovers by the Lady Knights and turned that into 13 points. For the game, MSU had a 29-3 advantage in points via turnovers. The other area where MSU dominated was the post game where it outscored KCU 46-14 in the paint.
Junior Chynna Bozeman led the Eagles with 19 points and five steals as MSU collected a season high 18 swipes. Bozeman also tallied four assists and four of the Eagles' seven three-pointers. Tiffanie Stephens netted 12 points and a career high seven rebounds. Senior Tiffany Hamilton scored in double figures for the eighth straight game with 12, and freshman Ashar Harris again led the rebounding effort with 12. Senior Deja Watson scored a career high nine points.
MSU also passed efficiently with 21 assists. Sophomore Abby Steele dished out a career high six, while sophomore point guard Courtney Lumpkin handed out six helpers as well.
The Eagles outscored KCU 42-19 in the second half, shooting 44 percent in the final half. For the game, MSU managed to hit 41 percent (32-of-78). The Eagles, who hit a school record 16 triples on Sunday, weren't quite as accurate today with a 7-for-31 showing.
KCU was led by 12 points from Kristin Hecht. Hecht and Abby Evans each had a team-best seven rebounds. The Lady Knights shot 33 percent for the game.
KCU kept it close in the first half as they were tied with MSU 13-13 at the 12:22 mark. The Eagles scored the next six to make it a 19-13 game. The Eagles saw KCU cut the game back to five (21-16) with 5:03 left, but Hamilton capped an 8-2 run that pushed MSU's lead out to 11 at the 3:18 mark.
The Eagles host Marshall as part of a doubleheader on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
