MOREHEAD, Ky. – For the second time in as many games versus Tennessee State, Morehead State women's basketball's
Gabby Crawford put forth a career-high effort in leading the Eagles to a streak-extending victory.
Crawford led all scorers with a career-high-tying 19 points against the Lady Tigers, shooting 9-of-14 (.643) from the field while her nine made field goals also set a career-high. She added nine boards to lead all rebounders, pacing a trio of Eagles with seven or more boards as she neared her ninth double-double of the year.
Behind five or more points from each player who saw multiple minutes on the floor, Morehead State downed Tennessee State 60-52 at Johnson Arena Thursday night, extending its winning streak over the Lady Tigers to nine games.
Sophomore
Lai'Janique Perry-Ellis nearly joined Crawford in double-figures posting nine points on the night while tying for the team lead with three assists. Adding eight points was redshirt sophomore
Lauren Carter who also chipped in eight boards on the evening.
Defensively, the Eagles swiped nine steals with Crawford and Perry-Ellis each with three steals apiece, career-highs for both players. Morehead State also collected six rejections on the night with sophomore
Ariel Kirkwood leading the way with four.
Morehead State returns to Johnson Arena one final time Saturday, hosting Belmont at 1 p.m. ET. The game also coincides with senior day celebrations as the Eagles honor
Jazzmyn Elston and
Ellie Jo Johnson.
KEY MOMENTS
- Morehead State opened the game on a 7-2 run as Morehead State made each of its first three field goals and picked up a pair of free throws from Ellie Jo Johnson.
- Following a Tyler Moore three with 5:44 to play in the first quarter, the Eagles turned up the defensive pressure forcing four turnovers in a five-possession stretch
- Tennessee State would fight back in the later stages of the first quarter, using a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the contest with 1:53 to play in the quarter.
- After the Lady Tigers took the lead, Morehead State held Tennessee State without a field goal attempt for the remainder of the quarter, forcing a pair of turnovers. The Eagles scored the final five points of the quarter to stake a four-point advantage.
- Both teams traded barbs to open the second quarter with Tennessee State using a pair of three-pointers to cut the Morehead State lead to two with 6:58 to play in the quarter.
- The Eagles again turned to their defense, forcing four turnovers in five Lady Tiger possessions in the middle of the quarter, leading to an 8-0 Eagle run to close the half with an 11-point advantage.
- After missing its final four field goal attempts of the first half, Tennessee State opened the second half with a pair of missed field goals, seeing its longest stretch of the game without a made field goal.
- Following a made jumper at the 8:11 mark in the third quarter, the Lady Tigers were arrant on their next six attempts as the Eagles held Tennessee State to 1-of-13 shooting for an eight-minute stretch spanning the two halves.
- Morehead State upped its lead in the third quarter, seeing the lead expand to 14 points on three occasions before Tennessee State closed the quarter on a 14-6 run to cut its deficit back to single-digits.
- The Eagles opened the final period with an 11-2 streak to push their lead to a game-high 15 points. Morehead State got three made triples in the run with Lai'Janique Perry-Ellis sinking two and Jazzmyn Elston draining one.
- While Tennessee State closed the game on a 9-2 run, Morehead State held the Lady Tigers without a field goal make (0-for-5) over the final 2:48 of the contest.
KEY STATS
- In two career games versus Tennessee State, Gabby Crawford has posted a career-high 19 points in both games. Also in both games, she has recorded a career-best in either field goals or free throw made, making a career-high nine free throws in the first meeting and a career-best nine field goals in game two.
- Morehead State swiped nine steals Thursday evening as two players—Crawford and Lai'Janique Perry-Ellis—each recorded a career-best three thieveries.
- The Eagles forced 13 turnovers in the first half versus Tennessee State, seeing six Lady Tiger miscues in the first quarter and another seven in the second. On two occasions, Morehead State forced a turnover on four of five Tennessee State possessions.
- Morehead State went to the free throw line 16 times Thursday, connecting on 13 of the 16 attempts, a free throw percentage of 81.3. The game marked the 18th this season with 15 or more free throw attempts and the 11th that the team has shot 80 percent or better.
