TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State sophomore forward Amerie Flowers tallied a career-high 27 points Thursday night, but league-leading Murray State's offense proved too much for the Sycamores in a 114-78 setback inside Hulman Center.
 
Flowers went 12-for-17 on the field, setting career-best marks in both categories, while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. Clemisha Prackett, Jayci Allen, and Tierney Kelsey each contributed 12 points, while Kennedy Claybrooks dished out a game-high 10 assists to go along with three steals.
 
Murray State seized control early and never looked back, using strong runs in each half to build separation from Indiana State. After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Racers closed the first half with a decisive surge to take a 58-37 lead into the break. Indiana State showed fight in the second half and played Murray State evenly in stretches, but the Racers continued to extend their advantage with consistent scoring and trips to the free-throw line, pulling away for a lopsided victory.
 
First Half
Indiana State opened the game strong, jumping out to a 6-2 run behind a pair of baskets from Flowers. The sophomore forward went 7-for-7 in the first six minutes of the game, while Kelsey connected on a three-ball as the Trees led 19-14 at the first quarter media timeout. Murray State closed the quarter on a 10-2 run over the final 2:30, though, taking a 24-21 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Racers carried that momentum into the second quarter, opening with a 9-2 run before free throws from Prackett slowed the surge. Indiana State traded baskets with Murray State over the next 90 seconds, before the Racers pulled away with a 14-1 run. A layup from Flowers halted the run and sparked a late response to close the half for the Blue and White, but Murray State held a 58-37 advantage at the break.
 
Second Half
Indiana State applied early pressure in the third quarter, knocking down three of its first five shots with baskets from Claybrooks and Flowers to go alongside a three-point play from Briggs. Murray State kept the pressure on, though, hitting a trio of threes in the frame. The Sycamores showed signs of late to cut into the deficit, but the Racers closed the quarter on an 8-3 run, fueled by six free throws, and led 86-58 after three.
 
Murray State widened the gap in the final quarter, opening with a 15-3 run over the first 3:27. Indiana State continued to battle, with baskets from Prackett, Allen and Kelsey, but the game was out of reach by then. Baskets from Allen, Kayla Smith and Kelsey inside the last two minutes kept Indiana State on pace with its season scoring average, but the Sycamores' defense was overwhelmed in a 114-78 defeat.
 
News and Notes

• Amerie Flowers recorded a career, season and MVC high with 27 points.
  • She broke her previous record of 15 for the season and career and 14 in the MVC by the end of the first half with 16 points.
  • Flowers' 27 points were the most by a Sycamore in a game this season.
  • She set a season high field goal percentage when attempting 10-plus shots from the field at 70.5, going 12-17 in the field.
    • In going 12-17 she topped both her highest made and attempted in her career.
• Jayci Allen tied her season high field goal percentage at 66.7, which she set on November 16 at Austin Peay.
• Kennedy Claybrooks recorded her second game with double-digit assists this season (10).
• Indiana State tied its season high of 48 paint points, with the figure also being the Trees' most against a Division I opponent this season.
• Indiana State recorded its 12th game with 30-plus bench points this season, fueled by a pair of Sycamores scoring in double-figures off the bench (Prackett, Allen).
• The Sycamores had four players in the double figures for the fourth time this season and third straight game.
  • Thursday's game marked the second straight game with the same four scoring in the double figures (Flowers, Prackett, Allen, Kelsey). 
• Murray State's 57.8 percent clip from the field and 15 3-pointers were the best marks by a Sycamore opponent this season. The Racers' 15 threes were the most by an Indiana State opponent since Jan. 16, 2005 against Missouri State (19).

Postgame Press Conference Presented by Team Green Law: Marc Mitchell and Amerie Flowers
 

Up Next
Indiana State continues play inside Hulman Center on Saturday afternoon, with a 2 p.m. tip against Bradley

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