Late 3-pointer sinks Murray girls

Murray turned the ball over with :24 left on a five-seconds closely guarded call, giving Interstate 35 a chance to hold for the last shot.

Murray’s Kate Patton had a shot from just inside of the halfcourt line to tie the game, but missed right.

“It was an exciting game,” Interstate 35 head coach Jamie Smith said. “I thought both teams played well. We got down there a bit early, kept fighting back, and hit a big-time shot at the end.”

Bowden, playing in just her third game of the season, scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Roadrunners.

Murray jumped out to an early lead at 9-3 and led 9-6 at the end of the first quarter, but the Roadrunners battled back and led at each break after that.

The Mustangs never led again until Patton hit 1-of-2 free throws with 1:04 left to go up 38-37.

Murray head coach Jerry Shields said Interstate 35’s offensive scheme gave his defense problems.

“I wasn’t real impressed with our defense,” Shields said. “I thought we’d play a better defensive game. They kept running that flex offense, and we kept running into that pick down on the bottom the whole night long. We were hedging out on the screens and helping out, but they still got a couple of easy buckets that way.”

Patton led the Mustangs with 15 points, while Megan Oswald added eight points and Courtney Siefkas scored six points.

Murray, now 14-4, travels to Eagleville, Mo., on Tuesday to take on North Harrison.

INTERSTATE 35 (41) — Nicole Bowden 22, Nicole Travis 7, Charlie Rupp 5, Colene Jones 4, Brooke Brommel 2, Jordan Williamson 1.

MURRAY (38) — Kate Patton 7 1-5 15, Megan Oswald 4 0-0 8, Courtney Siefkas 3 0-0 6, Ashley Rider 2 0-0 4, Deena Snyder 1 1-4 4, Cheyanne Ashby 1 0-0 2. Totals — 18 2-11 38. FG shooting — 18-44 (40.9 percent). Rebounds — 34 (Oswald 13, Ashby 6, Snyder 5).  Assists — 7 (Patton 2, Oswald 2). Steals — 2 (Patton 1, Snyder 1).
Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — None.