Women's Basketball 3/10/2023 9:56:00 PM

Murray women roll into Region 2 title tilt

Box Score By Kevin Farr
Murray State Sports Information
A 13-0 flurry to close the first half broke open a tight game and propelled the Murray State Lady Aggies to an 84-60 win over Eastern State College Friday night and into the NJCAA Region 2 championship game for a second straight season.

With the triumph, Murray State's winning streak reached 18 in a row heading into Saturday's 4 p.m. title tilt against Northern Oklahoma College-Enid at Rougher Arena in Muskogee.

The Lady Aggies were up 20-15 after one period and maintained a 27-22 edge midway through the second quarter when Murray State turned up the defensive intensity, shutting out the Mountaineers over the final five minutes of the stanza. Lanie Gooch scored four of her eight points in the frame to spur a balanced Lady Aggie attack in the 13-point flurry in which six different players all contributed points.

Coach Steve Lowe's club then utilized a 24-point explosion in the third period to hold Eastern at bay with a 64-40 edge going into the fourth as five Lady Aggies all reached double figures offensively.

Sophomore Reese Webb, playing before a hometown crowd, pumped in 18 points to lead the Murray State scoring charge. Mattie Busby and Jade Millan notched 16 apiece, Gooch finished with 14 and Briana Knabe added 11 points. Payton James nearly made it six Murray State players in double digits but ended with eight.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Briana Knabe: 5' 2"; Freshman

#24 Reese Webb: 6' 0"; Freshman

#10 Mattie Busby: 5' 6"; Freshman

#3 Lanie Gooch: 5' 9"; Freshman

#0 Payton James: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#14 Jade Millan: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#12 Briana Knabe
: 5' 2"; Freshman

#24 Reese Webb
: 6' 0"; Freshman

#10 Mattie Busby
: 5' 6"; Freshman

#3 Lanie Gooch
: 5' 9"; Freshman

#0 Payton James
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

#14 Jade Millan
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G