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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—All five Morehead State starters scored in double figures, led by a career-high 24 points from Allie Turner to push MSU to a 85-69 OVC win over Southeast Missouri State Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
Turner was scoreless at halftime, but hit six second-half three pointers and six free throws to double her previous career high. Turner’s second half performance was complimented by a strong first half by Ashar Harris, who had a first-half double-double and finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds, her 10th double-double of the season.
Morehead State improved to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in OVC play and won its third straight at the Show Me Center. It was coach Tom Hodges first win in the building, a place when prior to four years ago, MSU had not had much success, winning just once since 1991. The Redhawks fell to 5-11 overall and 1-5 in OVC play.
The Eagles took a quick 10-2 first half lead, capped by MSU’s only triple of the half, a shot by Chynna Bozeman. SEMO rallied from what was a nine-point disadvantage with a 12-0 run. Despite shooting just 1-of-18 from three-point distance in the first half, Morehead State rallied and re-took the lead on a layup by Harris. The Eagles finished the opening half with only a 29 percent efficiency from the field but led 30-25.
The second half was an offensive onslaught for MSU, mostly thanks to Turner and Linda Dixon, who finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds for her first career double-double. MSU outgunned the host Redhawks 55-44, marking MSU’s third half this year with 50 or more points.
Dixon came away with three key steals and three assists. After SEMO opened the half on an 8-0 run, Turner began her barrage and MSU took the lead for good, holding a 10-point advantage from midway through the half until the Redhawks began fouling. The Eagles swished their free throws down the stretch to secure the win. MSU was 13-of-13 from the line in the second half and 20-of-24 for the entire game.
Courtney Lumpkin and Bozeman each had 12 to round out the double-figure MSU scoring. Lumpkin also dished out seven assists, and Bozeman swiped three of MSU’s seven steals.
Katie Norman led SEMO with 16 points, and Bailie Roberts had 14 points and a team-high six rebounds.
For the contest, the Eagles pulled down 17 more boards than SEMO, winning the battle of the rebounds 52-35.
The Eagles continue the road swing, travelling to Eastern Illinois Saturday for a 5 p.m. Eastern tip-off against the preseason OVC favorite Panthers.
