Visiting Indiana started on a 21-2 run and held on for a 77-54 victory over the Morehead State women's basketball team Sunday (Dec. 8) at MSU’s Johnson Arena.
Indiana (9-0) shot 39 percent from the floor (22-of-56), while Morehead State (4-7) hit just 30 percent (17-of-57). MSU connected on only 19 percent (5-of-27) in the first half but improved to 40 percent (12-of-30) after intermission. The Eagles missed their first nine field goals, until junior guard Almesha Jones made a lay-up at the 12:56 mark.
MSU outscored Indiana in the second half, 36-33. The visitors were 16-of-21 from the free throw line in the opening 20 minutes and finished with a 25-13 advantage at the line.
We gave ourselves an opportunity against a really quality opponent," Head Coach Tom Hodges said. "I really think that was hard as we have played in about a month or so. We know what we have to do, it's just being disciplined enough to do it. In the first half, I thought we kind of lost our discipline, and we put them at the foul line too many times."
Jones led the Eagles with 16 points, which tied her season-best scoring effort. It was also her eighth double-figure game of this season. Junior forward Casey Ryans had eight rebounds, which equaled her season-high.
Tabitha Gerardot and Taylor Agler led Indiana with 12 points apiece. Garardot grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Larryn Brooks chipped in 10 points. The Hoosiers hit eight three-pointers, including six in the opening half.
Indiana had its biggest lead at 50-21 with 17:22 left in the second half. In the next seven minutes though, the Eagles made five straight three-pointers to highlight a 21-8 run which cut the deficit to 58-42, but that's as close as it got.
Indiana outscored MSU 26-16 in the paint and out-rebounded the Eagles, 44-35. MSU will take the following week off for semester final exams and then will attempt to break its five-game losing streak as it takes on Berea (Ky.) on Dec. 18 at Noon.
"We have been going at it hard for two or three months now, so this will be the first significant break this team has had," Hodges said. "We need it. We have a few nagging injuries that I think will heal this week, and certainly for the players, they can finish up the semester strong in their academics."
