JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – In a game of ebbs and flows, Morehead State women's basketball exited Pete Mathews Coliseum after fashioning a season-best 43.1 shooting percentage behind three players in double-figures in the opener of a five-game road trip Tuesday.
Leading Morehead State's trio of double-figure scorers, sophomore
Ariel Kirkwood equaled her season-high, pouring in 20 points to lead all scorers against Jacksonville State. Her point total wasn't the only category where she tied a season-high as she led all players with eight made free throws, going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.
Redshirt sophomores
Lauren Carter and
Gabby Crawford joined Kirkwood in double-digits, posting 11 and 16 points, respectively on the evening. Adding eight rebounds, Crawford nearly registered her seventh double-double of the year, doing so while playing a career-high 38 minutes.
Despite the season-best field goal percentage and three scorers in double-figures, Morehead State was unable to overcome an early deficit, dropping the opener of its road trip to Jacksonville State 66-61.
The Eagles also outpaced the Gamecocks at the charity stripe, going 15-of-17 from the free throw line. The team's 88.2 free throw percentage tied its previous meeting with Jacksonville State as the second-best free throw percentage this season. In the two games with the Gamecocks, the Eagles combined to shoot 30-of-34 from the free throw line.
Morehead State also forced Jacksonville State into 16 turnovers Tuesday night while committing only 12. The Eagles also swiped seven steals on the evening led by Kirkwood who tallied three steals for the second consecutive game.
The Eagles continue their road trip Thursday evening, travelling to the Music City for a matchup with Tennessee State. The game tips at 6 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN+ and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Eagle Sports Network (MSUEagles.com and WIVY-96.3 FM).
KEY MOMENTS
- With things neck-and-neck in the early going, Jacksonville State opened up a large, early lead behind the strength of a 16-0 run. During the run, the Gamecocks limited the Eagles to 0-of-7 from the floor while forcing five of Morehead State's 12 turnovers.
- Morehead State didn't let a 13-point first-quarter deficit deter them, erasing the Gamecocks' advantage by firing 8-of-12 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free throw line in the second quarter.
- The Eagles closed the second quarter on an 8-0 run in the final one-and-a-half minutes of the period, splitting the points evenly from the field and free throw line.
- Jacksonville State clamped things down on the defensive end in a back-and-forth third quarter by limiting Morehead State to just 4-of-14 shooting in the quarter. Despite this, the Eagles kept things within striking distance by answering each of the Gamecock runs in the period.
- After opening the final quarter trading baskets, Morehead State pulled within two possessions behind a 6-0 run to cut the lead to four.
- The Eagles held the Gamecocks to 4-of-15 shooting in the final period, including holding Jacksonville State without a field goal for two separate three-plus minute stretches. The Gamecocks iced their victory with a pair of free throws by Yamia Johnson in the final minute.
KEY STATS
- For the second time in as many games with Jacksonville State, Morehead State went 15-of-17 from the free throw line, fashioning a free throw percentage of 88.2. The game tied for the second-best Eagle free throw percentage on the season.
- Shooting 22-of-51 from the field, Morehead State registered its best shooting percentage of the season, shooting 43.1 from the field.
- Committing just 12 turnovers Tuesday, Morehead State has remained below its season average in turnovers for the second consecutive game.
- Dropping in 20 points against Jacksonville State, Ariel Kirkwood recorded her second 20-point game of the season, equaling her point output from the Eagles' first meeting with SIUE. The game also marks the fourth 20-point game of her career.
