MURRAY, Ky. – Morehead State women's basketball's
Tyler Moore ensured that her first start in an Eagle uniform would be a memorable one, picking up that start at Morehead State took the cross-Commonwealth trip to Murray State. The Portsmouth, Virginia native and graduate transfer from UMBC did not disappoint, scoring a season-best 24 points thanks to a career-high eight three-point makes.
Moore's shooting performance marked the first time since 2016-17 an Eagle drained seven or more shots from beyond the arc when
Darianne Seward netted seven triples at Belmont. Moore also finished the game one made three shy of tying the program-record for three-point field goals made, a record held by Eagle great Chyna Bozeman (nine vs. Jacksonville State (Mar. 3, 2011) and vs. Austin Peay (Jan. 31, 2010).
Despite Moore's hot hand, Morehead State (2-7; 1-4 OVC) dropped a hard-fought, close game to Murray State (5-4; 2-2) 69-62.
It also wasn't just Moore setting career-highs as sophomore
Ariel Kirkwood also notched a career-high, dishing out seven assists, four of which led to a Moore made trey. Additionally, Kirkwood finished the night with seven points, six rebounds, and three blocks to complement her seven helpers.
Joining Moore in double-figures for the Eagles was redshirt sophomore
Gabby Crawford who tallied 14 points to go along with a team-high nine rebounds, falling a rebound short of her fourth double-double of the season. Overall, all eight Eagles to hit the floor found themselves in the scoring column.
Morehead State returns to action Thursday afternoon with the first leg of the team's swing on the Ohio Valley Conference's Illinois leg. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. ET at Eastern Illinois.
KEY MOMENTS
- After trading baskets to open the first quarter, Murray State exploded on a 10-0 run to run its lead to seven near the end of the first quarter. During the run, the Racers clamped down the defense, holding Morehead State without a field goal for nearly the final five minutes of the quarter before a Tyler Moore three trimmed the lead.
- Despite being held to 3-of-15 from the field during the second quarter, Morehead State kept a manageable deficit thanks to the team's ability to convert at the free throw line. The Eagles converted six of eight opportunities at the charity stripe in the quarter compared to Murray State's paltry 3-of-10 shooting from the line.
- Equaling their first-half scoring output, Morehead State erupted from the field in the third quarter, shooting 50 percent (8-of-16) from the field and 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from beyond the arc with Moore draining half of her eight three-pointers in the quarter. Thanks to 23 points in the third period, the Eagles trimmed the Murray State lead to one possession heading into the game's final quarter.
- Trading points to open the quarter, Morehead State used its hot outside shooting to regain the lead at 58-56 with 4:53 to play in the game. Three-balls from Moore and Gabby Crawford sparked a 7-0 run for the Eagles that sparked the lead change.
- Over the game's final four-and-a-half minutes, Murray State turned up the defense, holding Morehead State to just four shot attempts in the game's final minutes with all four shots coming with under a minute-and-a-half to go in the game. During the stretch, the Racers converted on three of their four attempts while making six free throws to regain and cement the lead.
KEY STATS
- Redshirt senior Tyler Moore's eight three-point field goal makes marked the first time an Eagle made seven or more threes in a game since Darianne Seward made seven at Belmont on Feb. 18, 2017, and the first game with eight or more three-point makes since Allie Turner made eight versus Jacksonville State on Feb. 18, 2013.
- Shooting 42.3 percent from behind the arc, Monday's game against Murray State marked the first time since Jan. 9, 2020, that the Eagles shot 40 percent or better from three with a minimum of 10 attempts while marking the second time this season (44.4 percent vs. Bowling Green) that the Eagles have shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc.
- Monday's game also marked the first time Morehead State had drained 10 or more three-pointers since draining 11-of-24 at Murray State on Jan. 3, 2019.
- Sophomore Ariel Kirkwood's seven assists versus Murray State were the most in a game for an Eagle since Aliyah Jeune dished out eight helpers at Tennessee State on Jan. 12, 2019.
