Murray State University Athletics
Racers Finish First Round OVC Action Against Southeast Missouri State
1/23/2009 6:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Game
In the second of three-straight home games, the Murray State women's basketball team will face Southeast Missouri State, Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Regional Special Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
About Southeast Missouri State
The Redhawks come into Saturday's contest with a 9-9 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference (T-4th).
Four of SEMO's starters are averaging over 10 points per game during league action. Tarina Nixon is the team's leader with 16.1 points per outing. Sonya Daugherty is next on the list with 13.5, Crysta Glenn nets 12.1, and Lauren Sharpe garners 10.1 points per game. The final starter, Rachel Blunt, averages 4.4 points per game.
Glenn is the Redhawks' leader for rebounds, with 8.5 per contest. Sharpe and Glenn are strong shooters, averaging over 45 percent from the field.
While the Racers and SEMO are close in most statistical categories, Murray State owns advantages in points per game and shooting percentages. The Racers are averaging 75.5 points per game, while the Redhawks are garnering only 62.8 points per conference game. Murray State is also connecting on more of its shots from the field and free-throw line. The Racers average 45.2 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the charity stripe while SEMO garners a 38.7 shooting percentage and 73.6 free-throw shooting percentage.
Ball control may be a key factor in the outcome of Saturday's contest. While the Redhawks are at the top of the league standings for steals per game (10.6), they are also in the top three in turnovers per game (18.8).
The hand of Sharpe is the hottest for stealing the ball so far this season with 21. Glenn is close behind her with 18, while Nixon has tallied 15 steals. Glenn is also the key contributor in turnovers for the Redhawks this season with 51.
Against the Redhawks
Last season both teams earned a victory on the road. The Racers were led by then-junior Amber Guffey, who averaged 21.5 points and three rebounds. Guffey was 21-of-23 from the charity stripe, including a 17-of-19 mark in the game in Murray, Ky. Ashley Hayes also had strong performances with 16 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Both teams shot well during the series, with Murray State ending with a slight advantage (42.2/40.7). The Racers earned a clear advantage in shooting beyond the arc, hitting 14-of-37 (37.8%) while the Redhawks made only six of their 21 attempts (26.8%). SEMO turned the tables when it came to rebounds. The Redhawks averaged 45.5 boards to Murray State's 30.5.
SEMO only played eight players in the two-game series, with four of the those returners turning in key performances. Sonya Daugherty chipped in 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Tarina Nixon was next on the list with nine points and 3.5 rebounds, with Crysta Glenn adding 8.5 points and a team-high 11 rebounds per game. Rachel Blunt was the last returner to score more than nine points in the two games, averaging five points and 2.5 rebounds.
The Series
In a series that dates back to the 1973-74 campaign, the Redhawks currently own a 29-19 advantage in the all-time series. The Racers are holding onto a slight advantage in the series in Murray (11-10). Murray State entered the series with a 7-2 lead before SEMO became a member of the OVC in the 1991-92 campaign.
Home Sweet Home
The Racers enter Saturday's game with a 7-0 mark in the RSEC this season. The home winning streak dates back to Jan. 31, 2008 and currently stands at 12 games, the longest since Murray State moved to the RSEC. The last loss that the Racers suffered at home was Jan. 26, 2008 against the Redhawks.
The 12 game home winning streak puts Murray state in a tie for 13th in the country for the longest current home winning streak. The Racers current six game winning streak also makes the NCAA list of current consecutive wins and puts them in a tie for 19th.
The longest home winning streak in team history is 19 games from Feb. 28, 1987 to Jan. 28, 1989.
Leaping Luckett
For the past two games junior Mallory Luckett has turned on the scoring portion of her game, with double-digit point totals against Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois. The Louisville, Ky., native tied a career-high with 11 points against the Golden Eagles and then broke her own record with 14 points against the Panthers.
Post Production
Senior Angela Mullins had a strong performance against Eastern Illinois. The Madisonville, Ky., native was one of three players in double-digits in the points column. Mullins tied a season-high with 12 points against the Panthers and added a career best with three steals.
Mullins 12 points were part of 19 scored by forwards in the 60-51 victory over the Panthers, which give the Murray State sole possession of first place in the OVC standings.
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 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.
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 Feb. 4. Those 10 finalists will be placed on the official national 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.
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.
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 (22.1 points/10.0 rebounds) after tallying double-doubles in five straight 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.
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.
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. 19, 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 1,659 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 1,567 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 Carolina State). UCSB leads all teams responding with three players tallying their 1,500th points in 2000.
Upcoming Schedule
Murray State will have a week off before beginning the second round of OVC competition when they host UT Martin, Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:15 p.m.
Quick Sets
This was the first time since Feb. 25, 2006 that Amber Guffey failed to record a point in the first half...the last time was at home against UT Martin during her freshman campaign...the Racers were out-rebounded for the 11th time this season...Murray State is now 7-4 when pulling down less rebounds than its opponents.
In the second of three-straight home games, the Murray State women's basketball team will face Southeast Missouri State, Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Regional Special Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
About Southeast Missouri State
The Redhawks come into Saturday's contest with a 9-9 overall record and a 5-3 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference (T-4th).
Four of SEMO's starters are averaging over 10 points per game during league action. Tarina Nixon is the team's leader with 16.1 points per outing. Sonya Daugherty is next on the list with 13.5, Crysta Glenn nets 12.1, and Lauren Sharpe garners 10.1 points per game. The final starter, Rachel Blunt, averages 4.4 points per game.
Glenn is the Redhawks' leader for rebounds, with 8.5 per contest. Sharpe and Glenn are strong shooters, averaging over 45 percent from the field.
While the Racers and SEMO are close in most statistical categories, Murray State owns advantages in points per game and shooting percentages. The Racers are averaging 75.5 points per game, while the Redhawks are garnering only 62.8 points per conference game. Murray State is also connecting on more of its shots from the field and free-throw line. The Racers average 45.2 percent from the field and 83.1 percent from the charity stripe while SEMO garners a 38.7 shooting percentage and 73.6 free-throw shooting percentage.
Ball control may be a key factor in the outcome of Saturday's contest. While the Redhawks are at the top of the league standings for steals per game (10.6), they are also in the top three in turnovers per game (18.8).
The hand of Sharpe is the hottest for stealing the ball so far this season with 21. Glenn is close behind her with 18, while Nixon has tallied 15 steals. Glenn is also the key contributor in turnovers for the Redhawks this season with 51.
Against the Redhawks
Last season both teams earned a victory on the road. The Racers were led by then-junior Amber Guffey, who averaged 21.5 points and three rebounds. Guffey was 21-of-23 from the charity stripe, including a 17-of-19 mark in the game in Murray, Ky. Ashley Hayes also had strong performances with 16 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Both teams shot well during the series, with Murray State ending with a slight advantage (42.2/40.7). The Racers earned a clear advantage in shooting beyond the arc, hitting 14-of-37 (37.8%) while the Redhawks made only six of their 21 attempts (26.8%). SEMO turned the tables when it came to rebounds. The Redhawks averaged 45.5 boards to Murray State's 30.5.
SEMO only played eight players in the two-game series, with four of the those returners turning in key performances. Sonya Daugherty chipped in 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Tarina Nixon was next on the list with nine points and 3.5 rebounds, with Crysta Glenn adding 8.5 points and a team-high 11 rebounds per game. Rachel Blunt was the last returner to score more than nine points in the two games, averaging five points and 2.5 rebounds.
The Series
In a series that dates back to the 1973-74 campaign, the Redhawks currently own a 29-19 advantage in the all-time series. The Racers are holding onto a slight advantage in the series in Murray (11-10). Murray State entered the series with a 7-2 lead before SEMO became a member of the OVC in the 1991-92 campaign.
Home Sweet Home
The Racers enter Saturday's game with a 7-0 mark in the RSEC this season. The home winning streak dates back to Jan. 31, 2008 and currently stands at 12 games, the longest since Murray State moved to the RSEC. The last loss that the Racers suffered at home was Jan. 26, 2008 against the Redhawks.
The 12 game home winning streak puts Murray state in a tie for 13th in the country for the longest current home winning streak. The Racers current six game winning streak also makes the NCAA list of current consecutive wins and puts them in a tie for 19th.
The longest home winning streak in team history is 19 games from Feb. 28, 1987 to Jan. 28, 1989.
Leaping Luckett
For the past two games junior Mallory Luckett has turned on the scoring portion of her game, with double-digit point totals against Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois. The Louisville, Ky., native tied a career-high with 11 points against the Golden Eagles and then broke her own record with 14 points against the Panthers.
Post Production
Senior Angela Mullins had a strong performance against Eastern Illinois. The Madisonville, Ky., native was one of three players in double-digits in the points column. Mullins tied a season-high with 12 points against the Panthers and added a career best with three steals.
Mullins 12 points were part of 19 scored by forwards in the 60-51 victory over the Panthers, which give the Murray State sole possession of first place in the OVC standings.
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 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.
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 Feb. 4. Those 10 finalists will be placed on the official national 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.
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.
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 (22.1 points/10.0 rebounds) after tallying double-doubles in five straight 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.
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.
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. 19, 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 1,659 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 1,567 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 Carolina State). UCSB leads all teams responding with three players tallying their 1,500th points in 2000.
Upcoming Schedule
Murray State will have a week off before beginning the second round of OVC competition when they host UT Martin, Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5:15 p.m.
Quick Sets
This was the first time since Feb. 25, 2006 that Amber Guffey failed to record a point in the first half...the last time was at home against UT Martin during her freshman campaign...the Racers were out-rebounded for the 11th time this season...Murray State is now 7-4 when pulling down less rebounds than its opponents.
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