MSU's Coleman Drops 37, but Eagles Fall to Tech 82-73

Morehead, Ky.-- Morehead State's freshman Chrishawn Coleman scored a career-high 37 points as the Eagles fell in a gritty effort to Tennessee Tech 82-73 Thursday night in Johnson Arena.   

Coleman's output was the highest single scoring performance of the season to date in the Ohio Valley Conference and ties her for the seventh highest single-game total in program history with Donna Murphy, Sherita Joplin and Chynna Bozeman.  

Morehead State (7-15/2-10 OVC) trailed early in the opening quarter but got it to 17-15 with 2:20 to play. Tennesse Tech (15-5/9-2 OVC) closed out the period with an 8-0 run aided by four of the eight first quarter MSU turnovers and led 25-15 after ten minutes.  

Morehead State responded with an 11-0 run early in the second quarter capped by a driving layup by Coleman to cut the lead to 27-26. Tech responded and took a 41-36 lead into the intermission.  

Morehead State committed 15 turnovers in the first twenty minutes leading to a 20-9 advantage in points off turnovers. Coleman led all scorers with 17 points in the opening half. Chloe Larry had 12 for Tech. 

TTU used a cold-shooting quarter from the Eagles to extend the lead in the third period. The Eagles shot just 5-18 (28%) for the quarter, while the Golden Eagles shot 53% from the floor. TTU got a Keeley Carter three-pointer to extend the lead to 61-47 with just over a minute left in the quarter, their biggest lead of the night.  

In the final quarter, MSU used an eight-point run capped by a Kalise Hill free throw with 1:42 to play to cut the lead to 74-69 but could get no closer. Hill finished with a career-high14 points and Katie Dike posted her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Dike also posted four blocks, giving her 29 on the year. 

Tennessee Tech was led by a trio of players with 18 points; Chloe Larry, Keeley Carter and Reghan Grimes. Taris Thornton added 10 for TTU. 

By the Numbers 

• MSU shot 30-62 (48.4%) from the field for the game. That's the best accuracy for the Eagles in conference play, and the second-best performance on the season against a Division I opponent. They shot 48.5% against Jackson State on November 30 in Spartanburg, S.C.   

• MSU limited their turnovers to just two in the second half, while forcing TTU into four. For the game, TTU had a 22-14 edge in points off turnovers.  

• MSU outrebounded TTU 38-29. The Eagles also pulled down 14 offensive rebounds to Tech's nine. MSU had a 13-12 edge in Second Chance Points. 

• TTU went 7-19 (37%) from three-point range, while the Eagles were just 1-6 (17%). 

• Tech was 17-20 (85%) from the free throw line; MSU was 12-19 (63%).