CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Guard Amber Guffey scored 17 points and drained four three-pointers to lead Murray State to a 62-46 victory over the University of Delaware women’s basketball team on Saturday evening in the third-place game of the Panera Bread Classic, hosted by Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Four players scored in double figures for sweet-shooting Murray State, which connected on 11 of 18 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from the floor – 60 percent in the second half.

Junior guard Ethlynne Thomas netted a career-high 10 points and grabbed six rebounds for the Blue Hens, who lost their fifth game in a row for the first time since November of 2003. Freshman guard Vanessa Kabongo added 10 points and accounted for Delaware’s only three assists.

The Racers lived up to their name early on, sprinting out to a 12-2 lead to open the game thanks to three three-pointers and a three-point play, but Delaware answered with a 14-3 surge of its own to take its first lead of the game at 16-15 on a tip-in by junior guard Jamie Mundy at the 5:43 mark. Murray State regained the momentum in the final few minutes of the period, taking a 24-18 halftime lead on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from 25 feet out by guard Paige Guffey.

The Racers opened the second half with an 18-9 run highlighted by a four-point play from guard Alaina Lee, who tallied 11 points and connected on all three of her long-range tries. Murray State took its biggest lead of 20 when Hayes hit a free throw to make the score 53-33 with 6:02 left in the game.

Delaware shot just 29 percent from the field, dipping below 30 percent for the fourth time in six games.

Senior guard Kyle DeHaven collected three steals to bring her career total to 330 and move into fifth place on the all-time Colonial Athletic Association list. She also had eight points, but shot just 2-for-10 from the floor. Junior guard Jamie Mundy netted nine points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds.

“We struggled tonight offensively,” said 12th-year UD head coach Tina Martin. “We took some good shots but were unable to finish. Defensively, we need to defend shooters better.”

Guard Ashley Hayes impressed with 13 points and 13 rebounds for Murray State, which improved to 3-2 on the year. The Hens, playing their first game ever against an Ohio Valley Conference team, fell to 1-5, their worst start since the 1995-96 season.

Kabongo was named to the all-tournament team after scoring in double figures in both the Blue Hens' games.

Amber Guffey has led Murray State in scoring in all five of its games this year.

The Blue Hens return to action on Wednesday night, when they host Atlantic 10 contender LaSalle at 7 p.m.

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