Murray State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Resumes Play At UT Martin
1/18/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
When the Murray State women's basketball team last played, they were just one game behind Ohio Valley Conference leader Eastern Illinois. Now, nine days later, the Racers (11-5, 5-3 OVC) are two games back and hope to start gaining some ground on EIU (9-9, 8-2 OVC) as well as Samford (13-5, 6-2 OVC) and Southeast Missouri (11-6, 6-2 OVC), who are tied for second.
In its first game back on the hardcourt after more than a week off, Murray State need not worry about having lost any name recognition, especially with its next opponent. It was UT Martin that the Racers ousted 66-65 in the semifinal round of last year's OVC Tournament, and it will be the Skyhawks (4-14, 1-7 OVC) who will be seeking payback Saturday at 4 p.m. in Skyhawk Arena.
However, the teams have gone in opposite directions this season. Murray State has won nine of its last 12 games, while UT Martin has dropped 12 of its last 13, but that one win was a biggie, as the Skyhawks upended league leader Eastern Illinois on the road, 66-64, after going 31-for-32 from the free-throw line.
This game will feature the conference's top three rebounders, as UTM's Phyllisha Miller tops the list at 9.8 rebounds per game, having wrested the top spot from Racer Ashley Hayes, who now ranks second with 9.5 boards per contest. Skyhawk Crystal Fuller is third at 8.9 rpg.
While free throws are a mainstay for the Racers, getting to the line may prove to be difficult Saturday, as the Skyhawks commit the fewest fouls in the nation, at a rate of 12.4 per game. UTM opponents average making 7.9 of 11.8 free-throw attempts per game, while the Racers hit 13.1 of 16.1 shots per game from the line.
THE GAME
Murray State Racers (11-5, 5-3 OVC) at UT Martin Skyhawks (4-14, 1-7 OVC)
Saturday, Jan. 19, 4:00 p.m.; Skyhawk Arena, Martin, Tenn.
Radio: WNBS (1340 AM, Murray) / Josh Perigo
Listen Live: www.GoRacers.com
Video Streaming: www.OVCsports.tv
Game Notes: Click Here
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS...
Juniors Ashley Hayes and Amber Guffey are each on pace to reach 1,000 career points soon. Hayes has 972 career points, while Guffey has 967, each over 75 games. VCU's Quanitra Hollingsworth and Krystal Vaughn each reached their 1,000th career point on Thursday, marking the first time in collegiate women's basketball that two players on the same team each scored their 1,000th career point in the same game.
DIVISION I SCORING TANDEMS
Guffey and Hayes are the fourth-best scoring duo in Division I this week, as they combine for 37.9 points per game. Utah Valley State's Robyn Fairbanks and Sandy Marvin top that list with a combined 41.5 points per game, while Robert Morris's Sade Logan and Chinata Nesbit are second at 38.4 ppg and Idaho State's Natalie Doma and Andrea Lightfoot are third at 38.0 ppg.
WALK (TO) THE LINE
Murray State still ranks second in the nation in free-throw shooting, the fourth straight ranking for the Racers to hold the No. 2 spot after ranking No. 1 on Dec. 10. MSU is shooting 81.7 percent from the line, while No. 1 Idaho State is shooting 82.7 percent
LONGEVITY
Three Racer seniors are approaching their 100th career games. On Saturday, Alaina Lee will play in her 99th career game, while Gerraca Matthews and Shaleea Petty will take part in their 97th career games. Only 25 MSU women's basketball players have played in 100 or more career games. If she starts, Petty will have started in her 96th career game, tying for seventh on the MSU list with Susan Tackett (1998-2002).
