Deja Jones scored a career-high 21 points Friday night while Indiana State shot 50 percent from the field, but Murray State’s fast-paced offense proved too much for the Trees in a 97-71 loss inside the CFSB Center.
Jones was 8-for-14 from the field and also added six rebounds for the Blue and White. Bella Finnegan and Savannah White added 10 points apiece for the Trees, while Mia Simpson had eight points and seven rebounds.
Jones had 10 in the first quarter as the Sycamores went back-and-forth in an up-tempo start to the game. Indiana State had a five-point lead midway through the second quarter, but Murray State closed the half on a 19-4 run and never looked back. The Sycamores shot the ball well throughout the game, but the Racers had an answer for every Indiana State basket as the Trees couldn’t keep pace with the home side’s 3-point barrage and strong post presence.
First Half
Finnegan opened the scoring for the Sycamores with a midrange jumper, but it was Jones who had the hot hand for the Trees early on. The senior guard was a perfect 5-for-5 in the first quarter, including back-to-back baskets midway through to put the Sycamores ahead 14-13. Baskets inside from Jones and Queen Ruffin inside the last two minutes kept the Sycamores on pace, as Murray State took a slim 22-20 lead to the second.
Jones gave the Sycamores the lead early in the second with a three-ball, and layups from Davina Smith and Ruffin saw the Blue and White take their largest lead midway through at 30-25. Murray State came roaring back, though, closing the half on a 19-4 run. A pair of baskets from Finnegan after the media timeout briefly kept Indiana State ahead but Murray State scored the last 11 points to take a 44-34 lead into the break.
Second Half
Early baskets from Keslyn Secrist and Jones cut Indiana State’s deficit down to single-digits less than two minutes into the third quarter, but an 8-0 Racer run followed. Jones continued her strong evening on the road with a pair of free throws and a layup on back-to-back possessions, with Secrist and Smith adding to the scoring to pull Indiana State within 61-47. Smith tacked on a fastbreak layup and Simpson hit a pair of shots late in the period, as the Trees kept battling despite facing a 74-55 deficit through three.
Finnegan and Secrist connected on midrange jumpers early in the fourth, with White adding a pair of baskets down low. Murray State kept its foot on the gas pedal, but Indiana State closed the game strong despite the scoreline. Simpson hit a pair of late baskets and White added a late layup, as the Sycamores fell in a high-scoring affair, 97-71.
News and Notes
- Deja Jones surpassed the 20-point mark for the first time in her career in Friday’s game, with her eight field goals also representing a career high.
- Indiana State matched its season-best shooting percentage in Friday’s game, hitting 50 percent of its shots from the field (30-for-60).
- Indiana State finished plus-3 in rebound margin (40-37), marking the third time in the last four games that the Trees won the battle on the boards. Five different players had five or more rebounds.
- The Sycamores’ scoring was a balanced effort, as six different players had eight or more points in Friday’s game.
- Indiana State found success in the paint, scoring 34 points on a 63 percent shooting clip (17-for-27) in the paint.
Up Next
Indiana State caps its brief two-game road trip with a Sunday afternoon tilt at Belmont. Tipoff in the Music City is set for 3 p.m.
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