Eagle Women Battle, Fall at Murray State 81-72 in Thursday Matinee

Morehead, Ky.-- The Morehead State women's basketball team had three players finish in double figures, two with double-doubles, and scrapped to the finish before falling 81-72 to the Murray State Racers in the CFSB Center Thursday afternoon in Murray, Ky.
 
Heidi Smith led Morehead State (0-4) with her second career double-double, matching her career highs with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Kensley Feltner recorded her first career double-double with 17 points and set a career-high with 11 boards. Courtney Smith finished with 10 points, also a career high.
 
Murray State (2-2) the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference, was led by returning MVC Player of the Year Halli Poock with 21 points. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks finished with 13 points and nine rebounds; Katie Reed added 12 and Claire Johnson tossed in 10.
 
In the opening quarter, Murray State ran off an 11-2 run to lead 15-8 at the media timeout and took a 24-14 lead after the first 10 minutes. Morehead State shot 6-17 (35%) from the floor while Murray State went 9-19 (47%) from the floor, including 4-11 from three-point range in the opening stanza.
 
Both teams struggled shooting in the second quarter: the Eagles were 5-17 (29%) from the floor, while the Racers went 2-13 (15%), missing all four of their three-point attempts. Morehead State trailed 37-28 at the half.
 
Both teams found the range in the third quarter: the Eagles shot 6-14 (43%) including 2-4 from three-point range. The Racers shot 10-20 (50%) from the floor and 3-8 (38%) from beyond the arc. MSU's Kensley Feltner led Morehead State in the stanza with seven points and three rebounds in her return to action after not playing the entire second quarter due to early foul trouble. Morehead State committed six turnovers in the quarter as Murray State turned up the defensive pressure. The Racers had a 10-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the quarter.
 
Morehead State outscored Murray State 27-19 in the final 10 minutes. Courtney Smith led the way for the Eagles with all of her 10 points coming in the final frame. She hit all four of her field goal attempts and two of her three free throws. The Eagles went 11-16 (31%) from the floor in the final frame.
 
Morehead State returns home Sunday to face off with IU Indy in Johnson Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.  The game can be heard with on the Eagle Sports Network with Tom Lewis and Wes Holland on the call. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Jared Stacy and Dean Hardin describing the action.

NOTABLE

• Morehead State shot 28-66 (42%) from the floor and 3-10 (30%) from three-point range. The Eagles went 13-22 (59%) from the free throw line. Murray State was 28-72 (39%) from the field and 9-33 (27%) from three-point range. The Racers hit 16-21 (76%) from the free throw line.
• Murray State finished with a 46-44 edge in rebounding. Kensley Feltner led with her 11 boards.
• The Eagles finished with a season-low 16 turnovers. Murray State had 13 miscues. Murray State had a 17-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Morehead State dominated with a 46-28 advantage in points in the paint.