MOREHEAD, Ky. – Behind a game-high 19 points and a game-best 14 rebounds, sophomore
Ariel Kirkwood earned her fifth double-double of the season to pace a pair of double-figures for Morehead State women's basketball against Murray State Thursday afternoon at Johnson Arena.
In reaching 19 points, Kirkwood tied a season-high with seven made field goals while tying a career-high by connecting on a trio of three-balls. She split her rebounds evenly amongst the offensive and defensive glass, pulling seven apiece while adding three blocks, three steals, and an assist.
Redshirt sophomore
Gabby Crawford also scored in double-figures, pouring in 14 points behind a career-best seven made field goals. She neared a double-double on the afternoon, corralling eight rebounds, adding three assists and a pair of blocks.
Despite the strong efforts of Crawford and Kirkwood, the Eagles succumb to the Racers 70-54.
As a team, Morehead State racked up 15 assists on the afternoon, its highest total of the season as three players dished out three or more assists, led by junior
Ellie Jo Johnson's season-best four assists.
Defensively, the Eagles turned away nine Murray State shots with Kirkwood and Johnson leading the way with three blocks apiece as Johnson's total marked a career-high.
Morehead State returns to the court Tuesday evening, travelling to Jacksonville State for the make-up of the previously postponed meeting. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET and airs on both ESPN+ and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Eagle Sports Network (MSUEagles.com and WIVY-96.3 FM).
KEY MOMENTS
- Taking it to the hole early, earning a pair of free throw attempts, Morehead State took an early advantage before Murray State responded with five unanswered points before the first of Ariel Kirkwood's three three-pointers cut the Racer lead to one.
- The Eagles regained the lead behind a quick spurt sparked by two points apiece from Gabby Crawford and Kirkwood. Murray State answered with a 4-0 run of its own to regain the lead before the two teams traded baskets to end the quarter with Murray State holding a two-point advantage.
- The Racers opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run to expand their lead before the Eagles chipped away at the advantage with a 6-2 run of its own, getting four points from Ellie Jo Johnson and a pair from Lauren Carter.
- After seeing Murray State string together another run, Morehead State put together another 5-0 run to pull things close once again. Carter and Kirkwood picked up a field goal apiece while Johnson added a free throw to create the run.
- Ending the half on a 5-0 run, Murray State opened the second half opening up its lead behind a 9-0 run to open the third quarter. The overall 14-0 run grew the Racer lead to 18—the largest the lead would get until the game's final minute.
- Morehead State answered by outscoring Murray State 14-7 to close the third quarter, getting eight points from Kirkwood, four from Crawford, and two from Carter to close the period.
- The Racers expanded their advantage one final time over the game's final five minutes, using a 10-2 run to expand its lead to its largest margin (20) before Morehead State scored the game's final four points to create the final 16-point margin.
KEY STATS
- Recording 15 assists Thursday, Morehead State dished out its highest helper total since Jan. 9, 2020, when the Eagles also passed out 15 assists versus SIUE.
- Ariel Kirkwood's 14 rebounds versus Murray State fell two boards shy of equaling her season-high total while marking her sixth career game with 14 or more rebounds.
- Morehead State outrebounded Murray State 17-9 on the offensive glass. Kirkwood led Morehead State with seven offensive boards—the second-highest individual offensive rebound total by an Eagle this season—her third game with five or more offensive rebounds.
- With three made three-pointers Thursday, Kirkwood has tallied or equaled her career-high in made threes in each of the Eagles' last two home games, shooting 6-for-12 (.500) from deep over the last three games.
- A pair of Eagles—Gabby Crawford and Ellie Jo Johnson—put forth career-best outputs Thursday, setting career-bests in field goals made (seven) and blocks (four), respectively.
