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2011-12 OVC WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT BRACKET | SENIOR DAY TRIBUTE VIDEO
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The host Morehead State women’s basketball team erased a 14-point second-half deficit Saturday night against visiting SIU Edwardsville, but for the third time this year, the Eagles were outscored in overtime as they dropped a 72-70 extra-period decision to the Cougars in the regular season finale at Johnson Arena.
MSU finished the pre-Ohio Valley Conference Tournament schedule at 10-18 and 7-9 in the league. SIUE, which finished third in the conference standings but is not eligible for the tournament until next year, improved to 18-9 and 12-4 in the league.
The Eagles have earned the fifth seed for the OVC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., and will face off against eighth-seed Austin Peay on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. ET. The winner will face fourth-seeded Murray State on Thursday, March 1 at 1 p.m. ET. All games are the Municipal Auditorium. The Eagles split the season series with APSU and lost in their only meeting with Murray State.
The Eagles trailed 53-39 with 9:55 remaining, but sophomore guard Terrice Robinson led a furious comeback effort. Robinson, who played just two minutes in the first half, scored 14 of her team and career-high 20 points during a 20-4 run. She knocked down a three-pointer with 2:13 on the clock to complete the rally and give her team a 59-57 lead. After Courtney Kenner drained a pair of free throws for SIUE, Robinson connected on a jumper to push MSU ahead again.
Raven Berry, who had a 13-point, 15-rebound double-double for the visitors, sank two free throws to tie it at 61-all. Senior MSU guard Courtney Lumpkin, who played in her final home game along with fellow senior Linda Dixon, drove to the bucket as time expired but her game-winning shot attempt never got off.
The Cougars outpaced MSU 11-9 in the extra frame as the Eagles were only able to generate a trio of made baskets on 12 attempts. SIUE outscored MSU 21-4 at the free throw line for the game and distanced itself from the hosts in the overtime period by hitting 9-of-12.
Dixon finished her final home game with 18 points and eight rebounds. Lumpkin tied her season high with seven assists and added nine points.
The Eagles built an eight-point first-half lead early, mostly thanks to freshman guard Almesha Jones. She was 3-of-5 from long distance and scored 13 of her career-high 17 points in the first half.
Junior forward Ashar Harris became the fifth player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-rebound mark with her fourth carom tonight. She finished with 19 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards.
Kenner and Tierny Austin also had 13 points to lead the Cougars, while Michaela Herrod netted 10 points and eight rebounds.
MSU led 17-9 with 14:16 left in the first half, but the Cougars went on a 23-5 over the next 11 minutes and led 32-25 at the break.
The Cougars hit 39 percent of their field goals for the night, while the Eagles hit 31 percent. The Eagles out-rebounded SIUE 49-47, grabbing 26 off the offensive glass.
