Women's Basketball Scoreboard (Nov. 21)
Wright State 95, Murray State 69
IUPUI 84, Valparaiso 51
Wright State 95, Murray State 69
Behind 35 points from Ivory James and 26 by Kim Demmings, the Wright State women's basketball team rolled to a 95-69 win at Murray State Thursday night.
The Raiders hit their first six shots of the game, including threes from KC Elkins, Kim Demmings and Ivory James, to jump out to a 15-4 advantage just 2:42 into the contest. Murray State answered with a basket, but that turned out to be the final time the margin would be under double figures the entire night as WSU tallied the final eight points of the period to go up 52-33 at the break.
Wright State shot 43 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and was six of seven from the foul line compared to 36 percent field goal shooting, including six of 14 from three-point range, for the Racers, who were just one of three at the stripe.
The Raiders gradually added to the lead in the second half, with the margin being as high as 95-64 on an Abby Jump three with 2:40 to play.
WSU shot 45 percent for the game and was 14 of 18 at the foul line while Murray State shot 39 percent and was eight of 14 at the line. The Raiders finished with a 51-43 rebounding advantage and led 48-26 in points in the paint, 19-9 in points off of turnovers and 12-4 in fast-break points.
James led all scorers with 35 points, 24 in the first half, while Demmings added 26 and Tayler Stanton had a near double-double of nine points and 12 rebounds.
IUPUI 84, Valparaiso 51
The Valparaiso Crusaders dropped their home opener to IUPUI Thursday night 84-51. Sharon Karungi and Jessi Wiedemann both scored in double-digits as the Brown and Gold continued their excellence from the free-throw line.
The Jaguars featured a bench twelve deep and head coach Austin Parkinson had no qualms utilizing his team's depth. IUPUI shot 17-of-28 from the floor in the first half as nine players recorded points. Five Jaguars had at least five points at the break as IUPUI went into the locker room with a 43-23 advantage.
Karungi had eight points at halftime on 3-of-9 shooting from the floor.
Valpo faced a full-court pressure similar to what it saw versus Illinois in Champaign a week ago. On a positive note, the Crusaders have lowered their turnover total in each game thus far. Thursday night, the Brown and Gold committed 18 turnovers.
"Yes, we're tired, but so is every other team in the country. We need to stop making excuses and play better basketball," head coach Tracey Dorow said after the game.
A weary Crusader squad was unable to draw closer than the 20-point uphill battle it faced at the break.
Wiedemann recorded multiple three-pointers for the second straight game as she knocked down two on five attempts. The sophomore was also a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Sophomore Abby Dean scored nine points as she shot 2-of-3 from the field and 5-for-5 from the line, but IUPUI held on for an 84-51 victory at the ARC. The Jaguars enjoyed a 56-9 advantage in points from the bench.
