Murray State University Athletics
Battle For First Place in OVC Standings to Hit RSEC Thursday
1/21/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team will start a three-game Ohio Valley Conference home stand Thursday, Jan. 22 against current co-OVC leader Eastern Illinois. The Racers (11-6, 6-1 OVC) will battle with the Panthers starting at 5:15 p.m. at the Regional Special Events Center.
About Eastern Illinois
The Panthers come into Thursday's tilt with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the OVC. Their record in the league places them in a tie for first place with Murray State. EIU's sole loss in conference play came at Southeast Missouri State (Jan. 10).
Shooting and rebounding are the keys to the Panthers defense, as they are out-shooting their league opponents by over 13 percent (45.6-32.8) from the field, and by 11 percent (34.9-23.3) from three-point range. EIU also has a +10.1 rebounding margin (40.6-30.4) and leads the league in all rebounding categories except offensive rebounds.
The top three players for EIU are defiantly helping the team average 45.6 percent shooting on the season. Rachel Galligan, Dominique Sims, and Maggie Kloak are all shooting over 50 percent from the field, while Sims is also hitting 45.5 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. The trio are all also averaging over 10 points per game. Galligan nets 14.9, Sims adds 12.9, and Kloak garners 12 points per game. Galligan is the team's rebounding leader as well, with 6.7 board per game.
While the Panthers are strong shooters, they have struggled a little with ball control this year. EIU is committing 18 turnovers per game, 2.6 more than its opponents. The Panthers are also tallying four less steals per game than their opponents.
Against the Panthers
In the three game series a year ago, Murray State earned a 2-1 advantage. Senior Ashley Hayes tallied 18.3 points per game, while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and adding 6.3 boards. Amber Guffey was second on the team with 15 points per game and a 40.6 shooting percentage. Of the remaining returners only Paige Guffey and Mallory Luckett got on the scoreboard with three and one point, respectively.
Rachel Galligan was the leader for EIU with 22 points and seven rebounds per game. Galligan attempted most of the Panthers shots, with Dominique Sims next on the list with 25 attempts to Galligan's 44. Lindsey Kluempers had a strong performance for EIU, with eight points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The Series
The all-time series with the Panthers currently stands at 19-10 in favor of Murray State. The mark includes a 12-3 record when playing in Murray, Ky. The Racers have been victorious in the last two outings, including a 69-58 victory in the 2008 OVC Tournament Championship game. The first meeting in the series was Jan. 13, 1978, with Murray State earning an 84-83 victory in Racer Arena.
All Around Effort
In its match-up with Tennessee Tech Murray State saw strong performances from every player that entered the game. Junior Mallory Luckett started the scoring for the Racers and finished the game with a career-high 11 points. Luckett was one of four players in double-digits making it the fourth time that MSU had four scorers with more than 10 points in a game this campaign.
Besides Luckett, the Racers had three players contribute more in the game against the Golden Eagles than they are averaging this season. Junior Jessica Jackson came in and sparked the team with four points in just three minutes of playing time. Freshman Kristen Kluempers also saw the court for the first time since Dec. 17, 2008 and tallied three career highs. Kluempers had four points on two made field goals and added a block. Junior Pam Bell also saw more action than normal, with 11 minutes, she tallied three rebounds.
Sibling Rivalry
For the second time this season a member of the Murray State roster will have the opportunity to see their sister on the opposing team's bench. Freshman Kristen Kluempers choose to play for the Racers even though her older sister Lindsey Kluempers is now a senior on Eastern Illinois' team.
The other sister combo to face each other as opponents this season was Jana Roney and her sister Jenna Roney, who played for Bethel.
30 Point Extravaganza
For the first time in school history the Racers had two players record more than 30 points in the same game. It was the 48th and 49th time in school history that a player recorded at least 30 points, and it was the third and fourth time it occurred this campaign. Senior Amber Guffey tallied a team-high 33 points, while senior Ashley Hayes added a career-high 32 points.
20 Point Triple
In a rare moment in women's basketball, Murray State's “Big Three” had a strong night against Austin Peay and Jacksonville State as each tallied over 20 points in a game for the third time this season and two-straight games. Ashley Hayes tallied 29 points, while Amber Guffey added 27, and Paige Guffey netted 21 against the Lady Govs. Hayes then tallied 32 points against the Golden Eagles while Amber Guffey added 33, and Paige Guffey netted 22.
In a survey of NCAA Division I women's basketball SID's across the country only the University of Georgia has had three players score more than 20 points in a game twice in the same season.
Georgia is also the only school that has had twin sisters score more than 20 points in the same game. Kelly and Coco Miller tallied more than 20 points in the same game 10 times during their four-year career.
Luckett Up For Nike Give 100% Contest
Junior Mallory Luckett has been named a top-10 finalist for the LiveStrong.com Nike Give 100% Contest. On-line voting can be completed through Friday, Jan. 23. The contest recognizes those who live life to fullest.
Hayes Doubling Down
Senior Ashley Hayes as increased her performance since the Racers opened the 2009 portion of the schedule. Hayes is now averaging a double-double in conference play (23.0 points/10.3 rebounds) after tallying double-doubles in the last five outings for Murray State. The five consecutive ranks her fourth on the Racers all-time list for consecutive double-doubles. Stephanie Minor headlines the list with seven during the 1994-95 campaign.
Hayes is also ranked fourth on the career double-doubles list at Murray State with 27. Even if she were to record a double-double in every regular season game the highest she could move on the career list is into third. Stephanie Minor is in the No. 1 spot with 48 and Michelle Wenning is second with 45. Monika Gadson currently holds the No. 3 spot with 31.
Hayes Nabs Back-To-Back OVC Honors
Senior Ashley Hayes has been named the OVC Player of the Week for the second-straight week.
Hayes tallied a career-high 32 points against Jacksonville State while shooting 66.7 percent from the field and adding 10 rebounds. Her double-double on the evening gave her seven on the season and five straight, good for the No. 4 spot on Murray State's all-time consecutive double-doubles list.
In the win over the Tennessee Tech, Hayes recorded 18 points and eight rebounds to help the Racers to just their third win over Tennessee Tech on the road. The 22-point victory was also the largest margin of victory over the Golden Eagles in school history. For the week she averaged 25.0 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Working Way onto Watch List
Senior Amber Guffey can now add one more nomination to her list of honors for the 2008-09 campaign as she became the first Murray State women's basketball player to be named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List, awarded to the top women's basketball player in the nation.
The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T early season watch list was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and consists of 50 NCAA Division I women's basketball players from across the country. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis, MO.
NCAA Student-Athlete Blog
The NCAA started a new feature on its website for the 2008-09 season. The organization has chosen a student-athlete from each of the sponsored sports at each division to create a blog for the duration of the athlete's season. The NCAA asked the MSU women's basketball team to participate in the blog, and seniors Amber Guffey and Ashley Hayes have been uploading at least one blog entry per week since the beginning of the 2008-09 campaign.
The Guffey/Hayes Blog can be found as a link on www.GoRacers.com on the right-hand side of the women's basketball page.
Lowe's Senior CLASS Nominee
Amber Guffey has been named one of two athletes from the OVC to be named a Lowe's Senior CLASS Nominee. The two are among 30 senior female NCAA college basketball candidates for the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to an NCAA Division I student-athlete in nine sports. Based on criteria focusing on the “Four C's” of classroom, character, community and competition, the award winners will be selected by national balloting of head basketball coaches, national media and college basketball fans.
A national media committee will narrow down the list of 30 nominees to 10 finalists in February. Those 10 finalists will be placed on the official nationalwide ballot for Division I head basketball coaches, national media, and fans to vote by text messaging or on-line at www.seniorclassaward.com. Lowe's will present the winners with trophies during the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season and complete college education brings.
Guffey will be featured in this week's Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Newsletter.
Outstanding in the OVC
Four of MSU's seniors are making sure that their names will not be forgotten quickly among the best in the OVC. In game through Jan. 12, 2009, Ashley Hayes is currently in the top-10 in five active career leader charts for the conference. Hayes is first among active players for her 1,643 points, second for her 784 rebounds, fifth in steals (128), eighth with 90 three-pointers made, and 10th with 32 blocks.
Amber Guffey is also ranked on several lists, making three appearances. Amber is first for her 422 assists and 185 trey's made. She also ranks third in scoring with 1,562 points.
Amber's twin sister, Paige Guffey, also makes an appearance on the three-point shots made charts. Paige is ranked seventh with 99.
The final senior on the list is Angela Mullins, who is seventh with her 36 blocks.
Free-Throw Frenzy
For the past four seasons, MSU has been knocking down a high percentage of shots from the charity stripe. Their effort to do so has paid off, as the Racers are currently ranked No. 1 among NCAA Division I teams in free-throw percentage. MSU has made 83.1 percent (309-of-372) of its free throws during the 2008-09 campaign.
MSU finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked No. 3 in the same category, while the team was ninth in 2006-07, and 14th in 2005-06.
Individually the Racers have three players ranked in the top-100 in free-throw percentage. Paige Guffey leads the team and the OVC with 92.16 percent, having missed only six of her 81 attempts. That ranks her sixth in the nation. Amber Guffey is the third member of the MSU roster ranked in the national free-throw standings at No. 33. Ashley Hayes is also ranked on the national list as No. 32 with an 87.0 percent mark from the charity stripe. Amber has hit 123 of her 142 attempts for a 86.6 percent mark. She finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked sixth in the country with a 85.0 free-throw percentage.
Making Moves
Seniors Ashley Hayes and Amber Guffey started the 2008-09 campaign as the ninth and 11th best scorers in MSU history. In the openings games of the OVC portion of the schedule Hayes moved into the No. 5 position on MSU's All-Time Scoring charts, with 1,643 points. Hayes will now be aiming for the No. 4 spot held by Jennifer Parker, with 1,680 points.
Amber Guffey has also been making moves up the scoring charts. In the Racers game against Austin Peay Guffey became just the sixth Murray State player to tally over 1,500 points and now has 1,562 points. She is now right behind Hayes, with both aiming to pass Parker.
Murray State is one of six schools to have two players recorded their 1,500th career points in the same season. In a survey of NCAA Division I women's basketball SID's only five other schools have had players reach the milestone in the same season (Georgia, Michigan State, Purdue, and UC Santa Barbara, North Caroline State). UCSB leads all teams responding with three players tallying their 1,500th points in 2000.
Upcoming Schedule
The Racers will wrap up the first round of the OVC schedule this Saturday, Jan. 24 when they host Southeast Missouri State at 5:15 p.m. Murray State will then have a week off before begining the second round when they host UT Martin, Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:15 p.m.
The Murray State women's basketball team will start a three-game Ohio Valley Conference home stand Thursday, Jan. 22 against current co-OVC leader Eastern Illinois. The Racers (11-6, 6-1 OVC) will battle with the Panthers starting at 5:15 p.m. at the Regional Special Events Center.
About Eastern Illinois
The Panthers come into Thursday's tilt with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the OVC. Their record in the league places them in a tie for first place with Murray State. EIU's sole loss in conference play came at Southeast Missouri State (Jan. 10).
Shooting and rebounding are the keys to the Panthers defense, as they are out-shooting their league opponents by over 13 percent (45.6-32.8) from the field, and by 11 percent (34.9-23.3) from three-point range. EIU also has a +10.1 rebounding margin (40.6-30.4) and leads the league in all rebounding categories except offensive rebounds.
The top three players for EIU are defiantly helping the team average 45.6 percent shooting on the season. Rachel Galligan, Dominique Sims, and Maggie Kloak are all shooting over 50 percent from the field, while Sims is also hitting 45.5 percent of her shots from beyond the arc. The trio are all also averaging over 10 points per game. Galligan nets 14.9, Sims adds 12.9, and Kloak garners 12 points per game. Galligan is the team's rebounding leader as well, with 6.7 board per game.
While the Panthers are strong shooters, they have struggled a little with ball control this year. EIU is committing 18 turnovers per game, 2.6 more than its opponents. The Panthers are also tallying four less steals per game than their opponents.
Against the Panthers
In the three game series a year ago, Murray State earned a 2-1 advantage. Senior Ashley Hayes tallied 18.3 points per game, while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and adding 6.3 boards. Amber Guffey was second on the team with 15 points per game and a 40.6 shooting percentage. Of the remaining returners only Paige Guffey and Mallory Luckett got on the scoreboard with three and one point, respectively.
Rachel Galligan was the leader for EIU with 22 points and seven rebounds per game. Galligan attempted most of the Panthers shots, with Dominique Sims next on the list with 25 attempts to Galligan's 44. Lindsey Kluempers had a strong performance for EIU, with eight points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
The Series
The all-time series with the Panthers currently stands at 19-10 in favor of Murray State. The mark includes a 12-3 record when playing in Murray, Ky. The Racers have been victorious in the last two outings, including a 69-58 victory in the 2008 OVC Tournament Championship game. The first meeting in the series was Jan. 13, 1978, with Murray State earning an 84-83 victory in Racer Arena.
All Around Effort
In its match-up with Tennessee Tech Murray State saw strong performances from every player that entered the game. Junior Mallory Luckett started the scoring for the Racers and finished the game with a career-high 11 points. Luckett was one of four players in double-digits making it the fourth time that MSU had four scorers with more than 10 points in a game this campaign.
Besides Luckett, the Racers had three players contribute more in the game against the Golden Eagles than they are averaging this season. Junior Jessica Jackson came in and sparked the team with four points in just three minutes of playing time. Freshman Kristen Kluempers also saw the court for the first time since Dec. 17, 2008 and tallied three career highs. Kluempers had four points on two made field goals and added a block. Junior Pam Bell also saw more action than normal, with 11 minutes, she tallied three rebounds.
Sibling Rivalry
For the second time this season a member of the Murray State roster will have the opportunity to see their sister on the opposing team's bench. Freshman Kristen Kluempers choose to play for the Racers even though her older sister Lindsey Kluempers is now a senior on Eastern Illinois' team.
The other sister combo to face each other as opponents this season was Jana Roney and her sister Jenna Roney, who played for Bethel.
30 Point Extravaganza
For the first time in school history the Racers had two players record more than 30 points in the same game. It was the 48th and 49th time in school history that a player recorded at least 30 points, and it was the third and fourth time it occurred this campaign. Senior Amber Guffey tallied a team-high 33 points, while senior Ashley Hayes added a career-high 32 points.
20 Point Triple
In a rare moment in women's basketball, Murray State's “Big Three” had a strong night against Austin Peay and Jacksonville State as each tallied over 20 points in a game for the third time this season and two-straight games. Ashley Hayes tallied 29 points, while Amber Guffey added 27, and Paige Guffey netted 21 against the Lady Govs. Hayes then tallied 32 points against the Golden Eagles while Amber Guffey added 33, and Paige Guffey netted 22.
In a survey of NCAA Division I women's basketball SID's across the country only the University of Georgia has had three players score more than 20 points in a game twice in the same season.
Georgia is also the only school that has had twin sisters score more than 20 points in the same game. Kelly and Coco Miller tallied more than 20 points in the same game 10 times during their four-year career.
Luckett Up For Nike Give 100% Contest
Junior Mallory Luckett has been named a top-10 finalist for the LiveStrong.com Nike Give 100% Contest. On-line voting can be completed through Friday, Jan. 23. The contest recognizes those who live life to fullest.
Hayes Doubling Down
Senior Ashley Hayes as increased her performance since the Racers opened the 2009 portion of the schedule. Hayes is now averaging a double-double in conference play (23.0 points/10.3 rebounds) after tallying double-doubles in the last five outings for Murray State. The five consecutive ranks her fourth on the Racers all-time list for consecutive double-doubles. Stephanie Minor headlines the list with seven during the 1994-95 campaign.
Hayes is also ranked fourth on the career double-doubles list at Murray State with 27. Even if she were to record a double-double in every regular season game the highest she could move on the career list is into third. Stephanie Minor is in the No. 1 spot with 48 and Michelle Wenning is second with 45. Monika Gadson currently holds the No. 3 spot with 31.
Hayes Nabs Back-To-Back OVC Honors
Senior Ashley Hayes has been named the OVC Player of the Week for the second-straight week.
Hayes tallied a career-high 32 points against Jacksonville State while shooting 66.7 percent from the field and adding 10 rebounds. Her double-double on the evening gave her seven on the season and five straight, good for the No. 4 spot on Murray State's all-time consecutive double-doubles list.
In the win over the Tennessee Tech, Hayes recorded 18 points and eight rebounds to help the Racers to just their third win over Tennessee Tech on the road. The 22-point victory was also the largest margin of victory over the Golden Eagles in school history. For the week she averaged 25.0 points and 9.0 rebounds.
Working Way onto Watch List
Senior Amber Guffey can now add one more nomination to her list of honors for the 2008-09 campaign as she became the first Murray State women's basketball player to be named to the Naismith Trophy Watch List, awarded to the top women's basketball player in the nation.
The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T early season watch list was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club and consists of 50 NCAA Division I women's basketball players from across the country. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, which based its criteria on player performances from the previous year and expectations for the 2008-09 college basketball season. The Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T will be awarded at the 2009 NCAA Women's Final Four in St. Louis, MO.
NCAA Student-Athlete Blog
The NCAA started a new feature on its website for the 2008-09 season. The organization has chosen a student-athlete from each of the sponsored sports at each division to create a blog for the duration of the athlete's season. The NCAA asked the MSU women's basketball team to participate in the blog, and seniors Amber Guffey and Ashley Hayes have been uploading at least one blog entry per week since the beginning of the 2008-09 campaign.
The Guffey/Hayes Blog can be found as a link on www.GoRacers.com on the right-hand side of the women's basketball page.
Lowe's Senior CLASS Nominee
Amber Guffey has been named one of two athletes from the OVC to be named a Lowe's Senior CLASS Nominee. The two are among 30 senior female NCAA college basketball candidates for the 2008-09 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, presented annually to an NCAA Division I student-athlete in nine sports. Based on criteria focusing on the “Four C's” of classroom, character, community and competition, the award winners will be selected by national balloting of head basketball coaches, national media and college basketball fans.
A national media committee will narrow down the list of 30 nominees to 10 finalists in February. Those 10 finalists will be placed on the official nationalwide ballot for Division I head basketball coaches, national media, and fans to vote by text messaging or on-line at www.seniorclassaward.com. Lowe's will present the winners with trophies during the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was launched during the 2001-02 season to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university and pursue the many rewards that a senior season and complete college education brings.
Guffey will be featured in this week's Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Newsletter.
Outstanding in the OVC
Four of MSU's seniors are making sure that their names will not be forgotten quickly among the best in the OVC. In game through Jan. 12, 2009, Ashley Hayes is currently in the top-10 in five active career leader charts for the conference. Hayes is first among active players for her 1,643 points, second for her 784 rebounds, fifth in steals (128), eighth with 90 three-pointers made, and 10th with 32 blocks.
Amber Guffey is also ranked on several lists, making three appearances. Amber is first for her 422 assists and 185 trey's made. She also ranks third in scoring with 1,562 points.
Amber's twin sister, Paige Guffey, also makes an appearance on the three-point shots made charts. Paige is ranked seventh with 99.
The final senior on the list is Angela Mullins, who is seventh with her 36 blocks.
Free-Throw Frenzy
For the past four seasons, MSU has been knocking down a high percentage of shots from the charity stripe. Their effort to do so has paid off, as the Racers are currently ranked No. 1 among NCAA Division I teams in free-throw percentage. MSU has made 83.1 percent (309-of-372) of its free throws during the 2008-09 campaign.
MSU finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked No. 3 in the same category, while the team was ninth in 2006-07, and 14th in 2005-06.
Individually the Racers have three players ranked in the top-100 in free-throw percentage. Paige Guffey leads the team and the OVC with 92.16 percent, having missed only six of her 81 attempts. That ranks her sixth in the nation. Amber Guffey is the third member of the MSU roster ranked in the national free-throw standings at No. 33. Ashley Hayes is also ranked on the national list as No. 32 with an 87.0 percent mark from the charity stripe. Amber has hit 123 of her 142 attempts for a 86.6 percent mark. She finished the 2007-08 campaign ranked sixth in the country with a 85.0 free-throw percentage.
Making Moves
Seniors Ashley Hayes and Amber Guffey started the 2008-09 campaign as the ninth and 11th best scorers in MSU history. In the openings games of the OVC portion of the schedule Hayes moved into the No. 5 position on MSU's All-Time Scoring charts, with 1,643 points. Hayes will now be aiming for the No. 4 spot held by Jennifer Parker, with 1,680 points.
Amber Guffey has also been making moves up the scoring charts. In the Racers game against Austin Peay Guffey became just the sixth Murray State player to tally over 1,500 points and now has 1,562 points. She is now right behind Hayes, with both aiming to pass Parker.
Murray State is one of six schools to have two players recorded their 1,500th career points in the same season. In a survey of NCAA Division I women's basketball SID's only five other schools have had players reach the milestone in the same season (Georgia, Michigan State, Purdue, and UC Santa Barbara, North Caroline State). UCSB leads all teams responding with three players tallying their 1,500th points in 2000.
Upcoming Schedule
The Racers will wrap up the first round of the OVC schedule this Saturday, Jan. 24 when they host Southeast Missouri State at 5:15 p.m. Murray State will then have a week off before begining the second round when they host UT Martin, Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:15 p.m.
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