Eagles Start Fast, Cruise to 79-53 Victory Over Tennessee State

Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State got off to fast start and cruised to a 79-53 win over Tennessee State Saturday afternoon in Johnson Arena.
 
Morehead State (16-11, 11-5 OVC) held Tennessee State to just three points in the opening quarter and led 19-3 after the first period. Tennessee State shot just one of 11 from the floor, committing eight turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.
 
"I think we set the tone early today," said Morehead State head coach Ashton Feldhaus. "I was also really pleased that when they made a little push to cut into our lead, we pushed it right back out. That's the type of growth we've been talking about with this team."
 
Morehead State was led by Josefine Enander with 20 points. The sophomore from Sodertalje, Sweden hit five of seven from three-point range and seven of nine overall.  Violet McNece finished with 15 points, her fourth-straight game in double figures.

"Jo has had a couple of games where she's been hot," said Feldhaus. "Her defense was really good today. I think her defense dictated her offense." Landon Forbes stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, set new career-highs with eight assists and eight steals. Forbes shot four of eight from the floor and hit five of the six free throws she attempted. Kate Dike, coming off the bench for the first time this season, just missed her eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
"Beyond stuffing the stat sheet, she got our offense under control and really ran the team," said Feldhaus.
 
Tennessee State (4-21, 3-13 OVC) was led by Somah Kamara with 18 points. Amiyah Ferguson added 11 for the Tigers.
 
Morehead State outscored TSU 22-18 in the second quarter, spearheaded by Enander who hit two of three treys in the period. The Eagles hit five of 12 from three-point range in the period and led 41 21 at the intermission.
 
The Eagles stretched their lead to 25 on a Forbes layup off a TSU turnover at 57-41 at the 5:01 mark of the period. Tennessee State outscored MSU 20-16 in the quarter and trailed 57-41 with ten minutes to play.
 
The Eagles stretched out their lead in the final period, at one point leading by 29 points with 1:20 left. Morehead State forced eight Tiger turnovers in the period and outscored TSU 22-12.
 
Morehead State hits the road next week with games at Eastern and Western Illinois. Tipoff at Eastern Illinois Thursday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.
 
NOTABLE

• Morehead State shot 25-66 (38%) from the floor and 12 of 33 (36%) from three-point range. Tennessee State shot 17-47 (36%) from the floor and 3-15 (20%) from beyond the arc.
• Both teams shot well from the free throw line: MSU was 17-21 (81%) and TSU went 16-22 (73%). It was the seventh game of the season the Eagles shot better than 80% from the line this season.
• TSU committed 26 turnovers to 14 for MSU. The Eagles had a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Forbes' eight steals ties for the second-most in a game in the past 15 seasons.
• Morehead State outrebounded the Tigers 38-32. MSU had a 13-5 advantage on the offensive glass and a 9-2 edge in second chance points.