COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Senior Meagan Lyons joined Tennessee Tech's
elite 1,000-Point Club Saturday night in Eblen Center, but Murray
State held onto its share of first place in the Ohio Valley
Conference with a 69-47 victory in front of a crowd of 2,718 fans
plus a national TV audience on ESPNU.
The Lady Racers improved to 12-6 overall and 6-1 in the league to
remained tied for first place with Eastern Illinois. The Golden
Eagles, trying to win consecutive games for the second time this
season, slipped to 4-14 overall and 2-5 in the OVC.
Lyons led Tech with 16 points, all in the first half, pushing her
four-year total to 1,006 and making her the 24th player in the
program's storied history to hit the century mark. Coincidentally,
two other 1,000-point scorers - Diane Seng and Kendall Cavin --
were introduced at halftime as part of the team's annual Alumni
Night.
Krystal Stirrup was the only other Golden Eagle to score in double
figures, contributing 12 points and six rebounds. Blair Bowens
scored eight points and eight rebounds, raising her career scoring
total to 923 points as she continues to zero in on the 1,000-point
plateau.
Four players hit double digits for the Lady Racers, led by Ashley
Hayes with 18 and eight rebounds. Amber Guffey scored 14, Paige
Guffey had 12 and Mallory Luckett scored 11.
Murray State had 28 points off of 18 Tech turnovers, and shot 55
percent in the decisive second half.
Tech's early 5-2 lead disappeared in a 12-2 Murray State run as the
Racers went up by seven 14-7, at the 12:32 mark. The lead grew to
nine points, 20-11, on a pair of free throws by Paige Guffey.
Down by seven, Lyons hit back-to-back baskets to pull Tech to
within three points, 24-21, and two minutes later Lyons scored
another jumper to make it a one-point game.
Krystal Stirrup's basket with 1:19 remaining pulled the Golden
Eagles to within a single point again, 28-27, but Murray State
wrapped up the half by netting the final six points to head to the
break with a 34-27 lead. Paige Guffey's back-to-back 3-pointers
accounted for all of that run.
Tech's 1-for-12 shooting from long range in the first half hampered
the Golden Eagles, who owned a 21-17 edge in rebounds during the
period. Inside the arc, Tech shot 11-for-21 for better than 50
percent.
Free throws also helped the visitors, who were 10-for-11 at the
line while Tech was 2-for-4 by halftime.
The Lady Racers kept that momentum going to open the second half,
pumping in the first six points to make it a 12-0 run and build the
difference to 40-27, with just over two minutes elapsed.
A Tech timeout helped briefly as Bowens found the range and knocked
down a 3-pointer to make it 40-30, but once again the first-place
Racers put together a run, outscoring Tech 10-2, to make it 50-32
with 14 minutes to play.
Murray State continued its strong second half barrage, and opened
its lead to 20 points on a layup by Jessica James to make it 52-32
with 12:21 remaining. The largest lead of the night was 29 points,
65-36, with 6:53 to play on a jumper by Angela Mullins.
The Golden Eagles face their next four games on the road, visiting
Austin Peay on Thursday night and Tennessee State Saturday night.
The following week, Tech plays at astern Illinois and Southeast
Missouri.
Tech's next home action is Thursday, Feb. 5, against Eastern
Kentucky, and Lyons will be officially recognized during the night
for her 1,000-point achievement.