Murray State University Athletics
Women's Basketball Seeks To Extend Home Streak
1/4/2008 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State women's basketball team took a hard-fought 62-59 loss at Ohio Valley Conference leader Eastern Illinois on Thursday, but there is no time to rest. That game was just the first of a four-game set the Racers play over an eight-day period, but at least MSU can come home, hosting OVC rival Tennessee State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in the Regional Special Events Center.
A win by the Racers (9-4, 3-2 OVC) would not only get MSU better footing among the upper half of the league standings, but it would tie the school record for consecutive home wins, a 12-game streak set across the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. Currently, Murray State's 11-game home win streak ranks tied for eighth among active Division I streaks.
The contest against Tennessee State (5-7, 2-1 OVC) pits the Racers against a team that has been strong off the boards over the last several years. The Lady Tigers boast an offensive rebound percentage of .412 (average is about .325 to .335), allowing TSU more looks on the offensive end. Murray State will have to crash the boards on defense to prevent second-chance points, and they will be led by the top defensive rebounder in the conference, Ashley Hayes, who averages 8.0 defensive boards per game among her league-leading 10.3 rebounds per contest. Tennessee State leads the OVC in three-point shooting (.396) and three-point-shooting defense (.300), but average a league-least 3.5 three-pointers per game. TSU also leads the conference in most turnovers forced (22.6 per game), while Murray State is second in fewest turnovers committed (15.6 per game). The Racers continue to lead the OVC in field-goal shooting (.439).
Murray State's scoring tandem of Hayes and Amber Guffey -- which are the top two scorers in the OVC -- still rank among the best in the nation, combining for 37 points per game, ranking sixth in Division I this week. Tennessee State brings in the No. 3 scorer in the conference in Kendra Appling, who averages 17.0 points per game, while Obiageli Okafor is ranked sixth at 15.1 ppg. Appling leads the OVC with 2.6 steals per game, while Okafor leads the OVC with 4.4 offensive rebounds per contest.
The largest rift on the stats page between these teams comes at the free-throw line. Murray State is ranked second in the nation and tops in the OVC in making 82.8 percent of its shots from the stripe, while Tennessee State is ranked in last place in the conference at 56.9 percent.
These teams will meet again in Nashville on Feb. 14 at TSU's Gentry Center.
THE GAME
Tennessee State Lady Tigers (5-7, 2-1 OVC) at Murray State Racers (9-4, 3-2 OVC)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 5:30 p.m., Regional Special Events Center
Radio: WNBS (1340 AM, Josh Perigo)
Listen Live: www.GoRacers.com
Live Stats: www.GoRacers.com
Video Streaming: www.OVCsports.tv
THE SERIES
Wins: MSU 26, TSU 16; Murray State has won the last four meetings.
Average Score: MSU 73.3, TSU 65.1
Wins in Murray: MSU 15, TSU 6; Murray State has won the last nine meetings in the RSEC.
Average Score in Murray: MSU 76.4, TSU 63.3
COMING INTO THE GAME
Murray State at home in 2007-08: 6-0, 2-0 OVC (won the last 11 games at home)
Tennessee State on the road in 2007-08: 1-5, 1-1 OVC (lost the last two games away from home)
COACHES' RECORDS
MSU head coach Jody Adams vs. TSU: 0-0; in Murray: 0-0
TSU head coach Tracee Wells vs. MSU: 1-5; in Murray: 0-3
