MURRAY, Ky. – Jamyra McChristine had a big game for Sycamore women's basketball, but hot shooting late in the game pushed Murray State past Indiana State on Saturday evening at the CFSB Center.
 
The Racers defeated Indiana State, 70-62, and improved to 6-2 on the year while ISU fell to 2-7.
 
Indiana State led the way in almost every major statistical category despite the loss, shooting 41.4% from the field to Murray State's 33.9% and held the Racers to 26.1% shooting from deep.
 
The Trees also held the rebounding edge, 44-40, and was led by McChristine with 14 which is a career-high. The junior also chipped in 15 points and four steals for a solid evening of production. LeAndra Echi and Sommer Pitzer also came up big for the Sycamores, each posting 14 points. Echi pulled down eight boards to go with three assists and Pitzer added three assists of her own.
 
As a team, the blue and white held an advantage in the assist category, 12-10, as well as steals (11-8) and blocks (5-4). The Racers won the game from the free throw line, however, shooting 26-34 from the line compared to ISU's 11-26.
 
ISU started fast at the beginning of the game, running out to a 7-2 lead thanks in-part to a Jasmine Elder three, but Murray State would answer with a 6-0 run of their own to take the lead, 8-7, with 2:15 left in the quarter. ISU then ended the period on a 9-2 run, capped off by two Echi free throw, to own a 16-10 lead at the end of the first.
 
The defensive effort in the first quarter was superb, as the Sycamores held Murray State to just 14.3% shooting and 0-8 from deep.
 
Consistent offense would keep the Sycamore lead hovering around six for most of the first part of the second quarter, but the Racers would use a 9-1 run to tie the game at 24 with 3:59 remaining. Marie Hunter would stop the run, using a mid-range pull-up to regain the lead, but MSU would again use an 8-0 run to take a 34-29 lead into the half.
 
At the beginning of the third quarter, McChristine took control of the game. The junior put up six straight points to open the half for the Trees, pulling ISU to within one with 7:48 remaining. Del'Janae Williams would find Pitzer for a triple with 5:56 left to then tie the game at 38.
 
After the Racers regained the lead, the blue and white kept battling, eventually grabbing the lead back with 4:19 left in the third thanks to another McChristine lay-in. Murray State would again take the lead and was threatening to pull away up five, but a freshly subbed Caitlin Anderson entered the game and used a beautiful back-cut to earn a layup and keep the Trees within three heading into the fourth quarter, 51-48.
 
The Sycamores were able to start hot and capture the lead at the start of the final frame, 54-53, thanks again to a McChristine lay-in. The streaky Racers pushed the lead back to eight following an 11-2 run, but the Sycamores would claw their way back to within six with 1:50 remaining thanks to a pair of Echi free throws. That's as close as it would get, however, in the final minutes of action and the Racers claimed victory 70-62.
 
Murray State was led by Macey Turley with 23 points, six rebounds and six assists as well as Lex Mayes who tallied 21 points, four boards and two blocks.
 
Indiana State now has nine days before their next matchup when they welcome the Norse of Northern Kentucky to the Hulman Center on Dec. 16.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.