Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky.—Future Ohio Valley Conference member SIU Edwardsville showed Wednesday that its ready for Division I. The Cougars stole a 76-67 non-conference women’s basketball win from Morehead State Wednesday night at Johnson Arena.
Because SIUE is in the final year of transition to Division I and does not yet count as an OVC member, the loss does not affect the second-place Eagles in the standings. MSU fell to 13-6 overall and SIU Edwardsville is now 6-12. The future conference opponents split the series this season, with the Eagles winning in Edwardsville in December.
“I’m at a loss. It’s a very puzzling conclusion after a fabulous week of practice,” MSU coach Tom Hodges said. “They’re a great basketball team. Their record is not indicative of their ability.”
SIU Edwardsville shot a blistering 65.4 percent in the second half to outscore MSU 50-33 and earn its first road win of the season. The Eagles shot 33.3 percent in the second half and 34.8 percent for the game.
Three Morehead State players tallied double-figure scoring, led by Chynna Bozeman’s 24. Bozeman also had three steals. Ashar Harris and Courtney Lumpkin each had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Lumpkin also dished out a game-high five assists.
The Cougars started hot, taking a five-point first-half lead in the first four minutes on a layup by Melia Duncan, but a layup by Bozeman started an 11-2 run that put the Eagles in front. MSU swung the tide by taking advantage of 14 first-half SIUE turnovers, directly resulting in 14 Eagle points. Morehead State got the lead out to seven on several occasions, but it was a layup by Harris with seven seconds left in the half that made the eight-point halftime lead MSU’s biggest first-half advantage.
MSU started the second half with a jumper by Lumpkin to push the lead to 10 points, but Edwardsville responded with an 8-0 run to quickly cut that to two. MSU got the lead back to 10 at 49-39 after Lumpkin drilled a triple, but the Cougars again rolled off a run, this one 17-0, to take the lead.
A 3-pointer by Bozeman broke the Eagle scoring drought, and another trey by Bozeman a few minutes later dropped the lead to two. SIUE held onto the lead and pushed it out to 10 on a pair of free throws by Duncan. Allie Turner drilled a 3-pointer to cut the difference to seven with just over a minute to play, but the Cougars hit their free throws down the stretch to win.
Jazmin Hill had 19 points and four assists to lead SIUE. Michaela Herrod scored 15 points and pulled down a game-high 19 rebounds. Raven Berry scored 14 points and Duncan had 13.
Morehead State returns to OVC play Saturday, hosting arch rival Eastern Kentucky at 3:45 p.m. at Johnson Arena. The game is MSU’s annual Gold Rush game and fans are encouraged to wear gold. There will be specially designed gold rush t-shirts for sale. There will also be free gold rush t-shirts for MSU students with a valid ID.
