Box Score MURRAY, Ky. – SIUE women's basketball shot 53.3 percent in the second half and returned to its winning ways with a 78-69 triumph Thursday over Murray State at the CFSB Center.
It was the Ohio Valley Conference-leading eighth road victory for the Cougars. SIUE improved to 15-10 overall and 10-2 in the OVC.
SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher credited SIUE's defense for the win.
"We defended them in a couple different ways," said Buscher. "I credit our players for making the adjustments during the game."
Shronda Butts led four SIUE players scoring in double figures with 20 points. CoCo Moore, Tierny Austin, and Gwen Adams each added 12 points for SIUE. Both Austin and Adams recorded double-doubles, grabbing 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. It was the second time this season that two SIUE players have had double-doubles in the same game.
It was the eighth time this season Butts has scored 20 points. The junior hit 7 of 14 shots from the field.
Moore scored double digits for the fourth time this season and the first time since Dec. 29.
"I thought CoCo stepped up and played a nice game," said Buscher.
Murray State, 7-18 overall and 2-10 in the OVC, used a barrage of three-pointers to keep the Cougars in check. The Racers hit 13 three-pointers for the game and more than half of their shots were taken from behind the three-point line.
Leasia Wright led the Racers with four three-pointers and 18 points overall. Keiona Kirby followed with three three-pointers and 16 points. Six different Murray State players connected on at least one three-pointer.
"I have to give Murray State credit. They stepped up tonight," Buscher said.
The Racers and the Cougars were tied at halftime thanks to seven three-pointers by Murray State. Kirby hit a four-point play with four seconds left in the first half, giving the Racers the halftime momentum.
"When we picked up our defensive intensity, that's when we made some scoring runs in the second half," said Buscher.
SIUE regained its lead 58 seconds into the second half and never trailed over the final 20 minutes. With the game tied 43-43 on a Bianca Babic three-pointer for Murray State, SIUE countered with a 10-2 advantage over the next three minutes.
This time it was SIUE hitting the three-pointers. After going 0-6 in the first half from three-point range, the Cougars used a three-pointer by Sidney Smith and a second one by Butts to gain an eight-point advantage. SIUE was 4 of 5 from three-point range in the second half. The lead grew to as much as 12 points, and the Cougars went on to its 10th conference victory, the most in the Division I era.
The Cougars shot 16 of 30 from the field in the second half and held Murray State to 11 of 30 over the final 20 minutes. SIUE also dominated in the paint with a 38-18 edge.
The final road contest of the regular season for the Cougars is next Wednesday. SIUE travels to Austin Peay for a 7 p.m. contest in Clarksville, Tenn. SIUE's final three games of the regular season will be played at the Vadalabene Center with UT Martin (Feb. 21), Southeast Missouri (Feb. 25), and Eastern Illinois (Feb. 28).
