Morehead, Ky.-- A hot-shooting first half from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville proved to be too much for Morehead State's women's basketball team and the Eagles fell to the Cougars 76-58 Saturday afternoon in First Community Arena in Edwardsville, Ill.
Morehead State (7-13, 2-8 OVC) got off to a quick start, building a 7-2 lead with 5:30 to go in the opening period. SIUE (4-15, 2-8 OVC) only got their first field goal of the game with 3:12 to go. The Cougars then went on a 15-2 run, hitting all six of their field goal attempts to end the quarter and take a 17-9 lead into the break.
The second quarter was all SIUE. The Cougars went 9-16 from the field including 5-8 from three-point range. Morehead State was limited to 5-13 (39%) from the floor and hit just one of their five three-point attempts and went to the intermission trailing 42-21.
Morehead State rallied in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 14 on two Paynter free throws with 3:36 to go. SIUE rallied and went to the final quarter leading 60-39. The fourth quarter mirrored the third, with the Eagles getting the spread down to 14 again, but could not get any closer.
MSU was led by Chrishawn Coleman with 21 points. The freshman from Arlington, Tex., shot 9-18 from the floor, including hitting both of her three-point attempts. Maia Rosarion just missed her third double-double of the season with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
Harley Paynter added nine points and Kuryn Brunson also just missed her second double-double of the season with eight points and nine rebounds.
SIUE was paced by KK Rodriguez with 19 points. Ava Stoller finished with 17 and Macy Silvey netted 16.
Morehead State will return home Tuesday to host Southern Indiana. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. ET.
BY THE NUMBERS
- SIUE shot 15-28 (54%) in the first half, including 7-13 (54%) from three-point range. Morehead State went 9-32 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and just 1-9 (11%) behind the arc.
- For the game, the Cougars shot 29-65 (45%) from the floor and 8-23 (35%) beyond the three-point line. MSU shot 25-66 (38%) from the field and just 2-15 (13%) from the three-point range.
- Rebounds were even at 40. MSU finished with 17 offensive rebounds and held a 10-9 edge in second-chance points.
- MSU committed 22 turnovers to 17 for SIUE. The Cougars held a 24-15 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Coleman's 21 points was her second-highest scoring output of the season, and her ninth game in double figures.
