Murray State forfeits game because of ineligible player

2/15/2006 9:23 PM

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) - Murray State forfeited its women's basketball victory over Morehead State on Dec. 10 after Ohio Valley Conference officials found that one of its players was ineligible for the game.

Murray State officials made an administrative error and allowed junior forward Joi Scott to play before she was eligible. Scott transferred from Northern Illinois and was supposed to stay out of eight regular-season games with the Racers because of an NCAA-imposed suspension at her former school.

ordered the forfeiture when the error was discovered.

``I want to commend Murray State University and its administrators for their full cooperation during this review process,'' league commissioner Jon. A. Steinbrecher said Wednesday. ``Once the error was discovered, the athletics staff responded immediately and took appropriate actions.''

Because the NCAA stopped recognizing forfeits for secondary and major infractions in 2002, the teams' overall records will not be affected and statistics in the game - won 85-74 by Murray State - will stand.

Morehead State's OVC record improved to 8-8, and Murray State fell to 6-10.