Murray State University Athletics
Petty named to All-OVC Second Team in conference pre-season voting
10/12/2005 5:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The pre-season rankings and honors were announced at the annual OVC Basketball Media Day, held this morning at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tenn.
In the predicted order of finish, Murray State (9-19 last season, 5-11 in OVC play) was picked eighth in the 11-team field.
"That is a great motivation for us," said Lady Racer head coach Joi Felton. "It is what it is. We will finish better than eighth place this season."
Petty finished her freshman season last year with 4.25 assists and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.49.
Murray State returns six players from last season, but have a full 15-player roster for the first time in several years with nine first-year players joining the squad, including five true freshmen.
Each of the returnees was a starter at some point last season, with the six returnees averaging almost 15 starts each, with Petty starting every game in 2004-05.
Ashley Brooke Hayes led the nation in three-point baskets for four weeks last season and was second on the team with 10.3 points per game. Petty averaged 9.4 points and led the team with 1.7 steals per contest, along with her other point-guard credentials. Jessie Hirsch scored 6.6 points and shot 51.3 percent inside the arc. Alaina Lee shot 71 percent from the line and handed out 1.4 assists per game. Gerraca Matthews averaged 1.3 steals per game and shot 72 percent from the line. Jill Fulkerson had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.36 and was sharp from three-point range.
Joining the squad this season are Joi Scott and Paige Adlich, who are juniors transferring from other schools. They were with the team throughout last season, sitting out in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.
Also joining are two junior-college players, Erica Gordian and Derrica Jones.
An impressive array of freshmen will also join the roster this season. Amber and Paige Guffey, who played for Clinton County High School in Albany, Ky., last year, set numerous school records in their careers, including the most points scored by teammates in state history, with 5,736; Paige claimed 3,088 points, while Amber put in 2,648. Ashley Nichole Hayes of Humboldt, Tenn., was a four-time all-region selection, scoring 1,762 career points. Jessica Jackson of Radcliff, Ky., was John Hardin High's Most Valuable Player as a freshman. Latisha Reid of Miami, Fla., averaged 15 points and 16 rebounds per game last season as a senior.
