MOREHEAD, Ky. – Behind a dominating defensive performance for freshman Ariel Kirkwood and a career-night off the bench for junior Jazzmyn Elston, the Morehead State Women’s Basketball team defeated Ohio Valley Conference foe SIUE, 75-69, on Thursday evening at Johnson Arena.
Offensively, Elston led the Eagles with a career-best 21 points in 22 minutes off the bench. The Rossville, Ga., native was 6-of-12 (.500) from the field which included a four makes from beyond the three-point arc.
On the defensive end, Kirkwood rejected a career-best nine shots while also thieving a career-best five steals. The six-foot rookie from Milwaukee complimented her defensive stats with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Kirkwood’s nine rejections moves her season blocked shots total to 39 which passes Brooke Todd’s freshman rejection record. Todd blocked 33 shots during her 2014-15 rookie campaign.
“We knew SIUE was going to make us earn everything tonight and I thought we did that,” said MSU head coach Greg Todd. “I was pleased with our intensity and effort on both ends of the court tonight. This was a good win for us on our home floor and something we can build on moving forward.”
Along with Elston and Kirkwood, senior Breuna Jackson, senior Jaleesa Avery, and freshman Tomiyah Alford achieved double-figure scoring totals to help the Eagles reach a 2019-20 season-best scoring output against NCAA Division I competition.
Jackson, who leads the OVC in free throw shooting with a 39-of-42 (.929) season clip, went 7-of-8 from the line and knocked down two triples for an 11-point outing.
Avery turned in an 11-point game and pulled down seven rebounds while Alford scored 12 and nabbed eight boards.
Morehead State won the rebounding battle 42-36 which included 19 offensive boards.
The Cougars were led by forward Allie Troeckler in both points and rebounds as she went for 19 markers on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.
The loss drops SIUE to 3-11 overall and 1-2 in OVC play.
Morehead State improves its season mark to 6-9 overall and is now 2-1 in league play.
Next up, the Eagles close out their four-game homestand as they welcome Eastern Illinois to Johnson Arena on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. ET tip.