Murray State University Athletics
Lady Racers announce signing regional standouts Bell, McElrath
11/16/2005 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
"We are very excited to sign both of these players," said MSU head coach Joi Felton. "They are both post players. That was our need, and we filled that need by adding them."
Bell, a 6-1 senior this year at Paducah-Tilghman High School under head coach Allison Graham, averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game last year. She is listed among the best in the state of Kentucky with a .561 shooting percentage from the field last season. She helped guide the Blue Tornado to the state semifinals, where her team fell to Clinton County, which featured current Lady Racers Amber and Paige Guffey.
Bell was named among the top three posts in the state of Kentucky by the Blue Chip Recruiting Service.
Bell expects to also participate in track and field at Murray State. In last year's state championships, she won the state title in discus with a state-record throw of 139 feet, 6 inches, and in the shot put with a toss of 39 feet, 3.75 inches, scoring 20 of Paducah-Tilghman's first-place 100.5 points in the meet herself.
Bell chose Murray State over the University of Florida.
"This is the first player from McCracken County since Lori Barrett (1980-84) to play at Murray State," Felton said. "She will give us a physical presence inside. She has a great skill set for someone of her size. She has soft hands and a nice shooting touch. I am really happy to have her joining us next year."
McElrath, a 6-1 senior at Gibson County High School, averaged 12 points and 7 rebounds per game last year, playing under head coach David Russell.
"She is a physical player," Felton said. "She will help us with our rebounding and our scoring. We are very excited to have her coming to Murray State."
The Lady Racers open their 2005-06 season on Saturday at home against Ball State.
