CLINTON, SC -- Melissa Secchiaroli scored a career-high 22 points, but the Morehead State women's basketball team fell to the Presbyterian Blue Hose 65-59 on the road Saturday despite battling for 40 minutes.
Secchiaroli added two steals to her 22 point game to lead the Eagles (2-4). Blessing King helped out with five points, 10 rebounds and two steals and Veronica Charles chipped in with nine points and three steals.
King pulled down six offensive rebounds to lead an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for Morehead State, grabbing 14 boards and turning them into nine second chance points.
Morehead State forced 20 Presbyterian turnovers. The Eagles turned those takeaways into 25 points on the offensive end of the floor. Charles' three steals led the way for Morehead State.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 9-5 advantage, Morehead State went on an 8-0 run with 6:12 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Valentina Saric, to increase its lead to 17-5. The Eagles then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 23-16 advantage. Morehead State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots (four by Secchiaroli) to account for 21 of its 23 points.
The Eagles could not maintain their lead in the second quarter and entered halftime trailing 45-33.
Following halftime, Morehead State kept the Blue Hose from growing their lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from King, to trim its deficit to 52-47 with 1:18 to go in the third, a score which remained until the end of the third quarter. Morehead State took advantage of seven Presbyterian turnovers in the quarter, scoring eight points off of takeaways.
Morehead State could not pull any closer in the fourth, losing by a final of 65-59. Morehead State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down two shots to account for six of its 12 points.
Game Notes
» Morehead State lit it up from beyond the arc, knocking down 11 treys in the game.
» The Eagles put on a passing clinic, recording an assist on 61 percent of made field goals.
» Morehead State lost despite a 34-30 rebounding advantage.
» The Morehead State defense forced 20 turnovers.
» Morehead State cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Morehead State got a game-high 10 rebounds from Blessing King.
