Eagle Women Top Tech 67-66 in a Triller

Morehead, Ky.-- After a game largely playing out with both teams trading scoring runs, the final minutes were a nip-and-tuck affair as Morehead State prevailed over Tennessee Tech 67-66 on a Laura Toffali free throw with 0.9 on the clock Saturday afternoon in Cookeville, Tennessee.
 
With the game tied at 59, MSU's Marie Sepp made a driving layup with 2:15 to go. On the next possession Sepp sank a pair of free throws to make it 63-59. Tennessee Tech's Chloe Larry canned a three-pointer with 1:02 to pull the Golden Eagles to within one at 63-62. MSU responded when Anja Ekstrom drilled a trey from the left corner to push the lead to 66-62.
 
After a Tech score to cut the lead to two, Ekstrom was fouled and missed both free throws. Larry hit a driving floater in heavy traffic in the lane to tie the game again at 66. After an MSU timeout, Toffali was fouled while attempting a three-pointer for the win and was fouled, setting up her clinching free throw.
 
Morehead State (10-9, 5-3 OVC) was led by Kate Dike with 24 points. She hit 10-15 from the floor. Marie Sepp matched her season high with 21 points. She also led the Eagles with seven rebounds.
 
Tennessee Tech (10-7, 3-5 OVC) was paced by Larry with 18 points. Reghan Grimes notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Reagan Hurst added 10 points for the Golden Eagles.
 
Morehead State opened the third quarter with an 8-0 run, continuing a trend from the second period, to take the lead 38-37. Grimes ended the run with a trey at 6:53 to put the Golden Eagles back on top 40-38. Morehead State shot six of 11 (55%) from the floor in the quarter, while Tech hit just three of their 16 field goal attempts in the period.
 
Both teams opened the game shooting well: the Eagles hit four of their first eight shots from the floor, while Tech went four of seven in the early going. MSU went through a field goal drought of nearly four minutes and trailed 17-14 after the first ten minutes.

The second period featured multiple runs by both teams. Tennessee Tech opened the second quarter with a six-point run on a field goal and four free throws. Marie Sepp then scored seven straight points with a three-pointer from the top of the key sandwiched between two driving layups.

Tech responded with another 7-0 run to go ahead 30-21. Dike took over and scored the next seven points capped by an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:48 to go. Tech again responded with another 7-0 run to move ahead 37-28. Toffali ended the quarter with a long two-pointer at the buzzer to trim the Golden Eagle lead to 37-30 at the intermission.
 
Morehead State returns to action Thursday hosting Western Illinois to kick off a four-game homestand. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.
 
NOTABLE

• MSU shot 25-48 (52.1%) from the floor. The Eagles hit seven of their 20 three-point attempts. TTU was 20-56 (35.7%) from the field, including 11-29 (37.9%) from three-point range.
• Morehead State went 10-16 (62.5%) at the free throw line; Tennessee Tech finished 15-19 (78.9%)
• Morehead State was out-rebounded 35-26.  Tennessee Tech pounded the offensive glass; the Golden Eagles turned 17 offensive rebounds into a 22-7  advantage in second chance points. MSU posted seven offensive boards.
• Both teams committed 13 turnovers. Tech edged MSU 20-18 in points off turnovers.
• Led by Dike, Morehead State dominated 34-16 in points in the paint.