Murray State University Athletics
Racers Open 2010 By Hosting Skyhawks at RSEC
1/3/2010 6:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
After a month on the road the Murray State women's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the Regional Special Events Center for the start of the 2010 portion of the season. The Racers are hosting UT Martin in the restart of the Ohio Valley Conference portion of the season as well, after the two early league match-ups. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks have an even younger team than the MSU this season and have been hurt by injuries as well. They have garnered a 2-9 record and an 0-2 mark in the OVC. UTM has only two returners from the 2008-09 roster, with one being a red-shirt freshman. The Skyhawks also have five freshmen, four sophomores (three out with injury), and three juniors on the roster.
UTM earned a win in its last outing, snapping a six-game losing streak, over Mississippi Valley State (69-65) at the Georgia State Invitational.
The Skyhawks are currently led by Alecia Weatherly, who tallies 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Weatherly has a .381 shooting percentage (37-97) and is 14-of-34 from beyond the arc (.412). Cali Cupples is the next leading scorer for UTM, with 9.2 points per outing. Darnish Lyles is next on the list with 7.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Lyles is also the team's leading shooter, with a .425 shooting percentage on the year (34-of-80).
The Skyhawks are a second-half team this season. In their last game they came back from a three-point half-time deficit to earn the four-point win. UTM also tried to make comebacks in each of their OVC outings, falling just three points short of taking the win from Eastern Kentucky. The Skyhawks opponents have out-scored them by 140 points in the first half this season and by just 40 in the second half.
Against the Skyhawks
Of the returning members of the Racers, Mallory Luckett saw the most action and garnered the most points against UTM in 2008-09. Luckett averaged five points and four rebounds in the two meetings a year ago, while adding four assists, three blocks and three steals.
Since the Skyhawks have such a young team no active player on the roster this season played against MSU in 2008-09. Two of the members of the 2009-10 Skyhawk roster that are on the injured reserve list (Samantha Harper and Allison Wright) played in 2008-09.
The Series
The all-time series with the Skyhawks is the second-closest series that MSU has against a league opponent. The Racers currently own a 31-28 advantage, including a 17-11 mark when playing in Murray. MSU has turned the series back around to favor them in the last ten games, winning eight. The Racers also have a 12-9 lead since 2000.
Scoring Go-Round
After having three players from the 2008-09 season dominate the scoring all season, the 2009-10 edition of the Racers has been harder to determine who will fill in that role. MSU has had six different members of the roster lead the team in scoring in the first 13 games. Senior Kayla Vance is leading the way with four games in the top-scoring position, while sophomore Rachael Isom and senior Mallory Luckett have done so three times each and sophomore Mallory Schwab twice. Freshman Mariah Robinson was the first to do so this season, with 18 points against Alabama A&M. Sophomore Kristen Kluempers was the most recent, leading the Racers against Marshall, with 16.
Home Away From Home
Several of the members of the 2009-10 women's basketball team were close to home for the IUPUI game. Sophomores Mallory Schwab and Kristen Kluempers and assistant coach Ashley Hayes are all from around the Indianapolis area. It was the first time playing or coaching close to their local high schools for all three.
Schwab made the most of her extended cheering section, garnering career highs in five categories. The Martinsville, Ind., native tallied career bests for points (19), rebounds (7), steals (3), field goals (7) and three-point field goals (4).
The rest of the team also took advantage of the large cheering section, as they broke their seven-game losing streak, with an 88-68 victory. Schwab was one of five players in double-digits for the Racers and one of six players to garner career highs on the day.
Senior Leadership
All three of MSU's seniors have been leading by example and Jasmyne Thornton has seemed to find a new level recently. The LaGrange, Ga., native has recently tallied career highs in the points, rebounding, assists and steals. At Southern Illinois she tallied a double-digit point total for the first time in her career and was two rebounds shy of a double-double, with 12 points and eight rebounds. Against the Salukis she also recorded her first career three-pointer on her first career attempt. She also added career bests of four assists and two steals against IUPUI.
Vance Stepping Up
Senior Kayla Vance has been stepping up her output since the first conference games of the season for the Racers and earned her first career start against Morehead State. The Paducah, Ky., native has tallied season highs for points in three of games, including a career-best 22 against Southern Illinois (Dec. 19). Vance has been the Racers leading scorer in four outings since the Dec. 3 outing against Eastern Kentucky.
National Recognition
Murray State might not have the best overall record, but the team is currently ranked in the top-100 of three national statistical categories and has two players ranked in the top-100 in three individual categories as of Dec. 20.
The Racers top ranking is in three-point field goal defense, with a No. 32 spot (26.4). That defensive pressure has shown in the last two games, as MSU has held its opponents to zero made threes in 15 attempts. The Racers are also No. 65 in three-point field-goal made per game (6.5) and No. 82 in turnover margin (2.55).
Mallory Luckett leads the team with two individual top-100 rankings. The Louisville, Ky., native is in the No. 40 spot for assists (5.2) and No. 70 in assist/turnover ratio (1.73). Freshman Jessica Holder is ranked 92nd in blocked shots (1.5).
Record Setting Performance
The Racers had a record setting game against Mid Continent, Nov. 18. Besides earning the win that moved their home-court winning streak to a then school-record 20 games, the team also set a new record for steals in a game. MSU combined for 26 steals, one better than the previous record set against Arkansas State, Feb. 2, 1984.
The team also combined to tally 14 treys, good for the No. 4 spot on the MSU charts. The Racers tied that same mark against IUPUI (Dec21). The team's eight blocks against the Cougars were also the most since Jan. 22, 2005 and the eighth most in a single game.
Youth is the Name of the Game
After a 2008-09 campaign stacked with seniors, youth will be the name of the game for the Racers in 2009-10. MSU returns just three seniors and has no juniors. The rest of the 2009-10 roster consists of four sophomores and eight freshmen. Of the returning seven, only one, Mallory Luckett, was a starter in the 2008-09 season.
With only one other player averaging 10 minutes per game, one might think the outlook is bleak for the 2009-10 edition of the Racers. Questions may abound, but the program has come to expect to compete for championships and is working hard to deserve victory.
Up Next
MSU will return to the road for two conference games at the end of the week. The Racers first travel to Tennessee State, Thursday, Jan. 7 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The weekend trip will end with a 2 p.m. tip-off at Austin Peay, Saturday, Jan. 9.
Quick Plays
The Racers have made a three-pointer in their last 302 games ... the streak in the 10th longest active streak in NCAA DI women's basketball ... sophomore Mallory Schwab dished out a career-high five assists against Marshall ... MSU has had their opponents score the same total in consecutive games three times this season, all within the last seven games ... EKU and Morehead State each garnered 58 points, Missouri State and Southern Illinois each tallied 76 and IUPUI and Marshall each recorded 68 points.
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks have an even younger team than the MSU this season and have been hurt by injuries as well. They have garnered a 2-9 record and an 0-2 mark in the OVC. UTM has only two returners from the 2008-09 roster, with one being a red-shirt freshman. The Skyhawks also have five freshmen, four sophomores (three out with injury), and three juniors on the roster.
UTM earned a win in its last outing, snapping a six-game losing streak, over Mississippi Valley State (69-65) at the Georgia State Invitational.
The Skyhawks are currently led by Alecia Weatherly, who tallies 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Weatherly has a .381 shooting percentage (37-97) and is 14-of-34 from beyond the arc (.412). Cali Cupples is the next leading scorer for UTM, with 9.2 points per outing. Darnish Lyles is next on the list with 7.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Lyles is also the team's leading shooter, with a .425 shooting percentage on the year (34-of-80).
The Skyhawks are a second-half team this season. In their last game they came back from a three-point half-time deficit to earn the four-point win. UTM also tried to make comebacks in each of their OVC outings, falling just three points short of taking the win from Eastern Kentucky. The Skyhawks opponents have out-scored them by 140 points in the first half this season and by just 40 in the second half.
Against the Skyhawks
Of the returning members of the Racers, Mallory Luckett saw the most action and garnered the most points against UTM in 2008-09. Luckett averaged five points and four rebounds in the two meetings a year ago, while adding four assists, three blocks and three steals.
Since the Skyhawks have such a young team no active player on the roster this season played against MSU in 2008-09. Two of the members of the 2009-10 Skyhawk roster that are on the injured reserve list (Samantha Harper and Allison Wright) played in 2008-09.
The Series
The all-time series with the Skyhawks is the second-closest series that MSU has against a league opponent. The Racers currently own a 31-28 advantage, including a 17-11 mark when playing in Murray. MSU has turned the series back around to favor them in the last ten games, winning eight. The Racers also have a 12-9 lead since 2000.
Scoring Go-Round
After having three players from the 2008-09 season dominate the scoring all season, the 2009-10 edition of the Racers has been harder to determine who will fill in that role. MSU has had six different members of the roster lead the team in scoring in the first 13 games. Senior Kayla Vance is leading the way with four games in the top-scoring position, while sophomore Rachael Isom and senior Mallory Luckett have done so three times each and sophomore Mallory Schwab twice. Freshman Mariah Robinson was the first to do so this season, with 18 points against Alabama A&M. Sophomore Kristen Kluempers was the most recent, leading the Racers against Marshall, with 16.
Home Away From Home
Several of the members of the 2009-10 women's basketball team were close to home for the IUPUI game. Sophomores Mallory Schwab and Kristen Kluempers and assistant coach Ashley Hayes are all from around the Indianapolis area. It was the first time playing or coaching close to their local high schools for all three.
Schwab made the most of her extended cheering section, garnering career highs in five categories. The Martinsville, Ind., native tallied career bests for points (19), rebounds (7), steals (3), field goals (7) and three-point field goals (4).
The rest of the team also took advantage of the large cheering section, as they broke their seven-game losing streak, with an 88-68 victory. Schwab was one of five players in double-digits for the Racers and one of six players to garner career highs on the day.
Senior Leadership
All three of MSU's seniors have been leading by example and Jasmyne Thornton has seemed to find a new level recently. The LaGrange, Ga., native has recently tallied career highs in the points, rebounding, assists and steals. At Southern Illinois she tallied a double-digit point total for the first time in her career and was two rebounds shy of a double-double, with 12 points and eight rebounds. Against the Salukis she also recorded her first career three-pointer on her first career attempt. She also added career bests of four assists and two steals against IUPUI.
Vance Stepping Up
Senior Kayla Vance has been stepping up her output since the first conference games of the season for the Racers and earned her first career start against Morehead State. The Paducah, Ky., native has tallied season highs for points in three of games, including a career-best 22 against Southern Illinois (Dec. 19). Vance has been the Racers leading scorer in four outings since the Dec. 3 outing against Eastern Kentucky.
National Recognition
Murray State might not have the best overall record, but the team is currently ranked in the top-100 of three national statistical categories and has two players ranked in the top-100 in three individual categories as of Dec. 20.
The Racers top ranking is in three-point field goal defense, with a No. 32 spot (26.4). That defensive pressure has shown in the last two games, as MSU has held its opponents to zero made threes in 15 attempts. The Racers are also No. 65 in three-point field-goal made per game (6.5) and No. 82 in turnover margin (2.55).
Mallory Luckett leads the team with two individual top-100 rankings. The Louisville, Ky., native is in the No. 40 spot for assists (5.2) and No. 70 in assist/turnover ratio (1.73). Freshman Jessica Holder is ranked 92nd in blocked shots (1.5).
Record Setting Performance
The Racers had a record setting game against Mid Continent, Nov. 18. Besides earning the win that moved their home-court winning streak to a then school-record 20 games, the team also set a new record for steals in a game. MSU combined for 26 steals, one better than the previous record set against Arkansas State, Feb. 2, 1984.
The team also combined to tally 14 treys, good for the No. 4 spot on the MSU charts. The Racers tied that same mark against IUPUI (Dec21). The team's eight blocks against the Cougars were also the most since Jan. 22, 2005 and the eighth most in a single game.
Youth is the Name of the Game
After a 2008-09 campaign stacked with seniors, youth will be the name of the game for the Racers in 2009-10. MSU returns just three seniors and has no juniors. The rest of the 2009-10 roster consists of four sophomores and eight freshmen. Of the returning seven, only one, Mallory Luckett, was a starter in the 2008-09 season.
With only one other player averaging 10 minutes per game, one might think the outlook is bleak for the 2009-10 edition of the Racers. Questions may abound, but the program has come to expect to compete for championships and is working hard to deserve victory.
Up Next
MSU will return to the road for two conference games at the end of the week. The Racers first travel to Tennessee State, Thursday, Jan. 7 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The weekend trip will end with a 2 p.m. tip-off at Austin Peay, Saturday, Jan. 9.
Quick Plays
The Racers have made a three-pointer in their last 302 games ... the streak in the 10th longest active streak in NCAA DI women's basketball ... sophomore Mallory Schwab dished out a career-high five assists against Marshall ... MSU has had their opponents score the same total in consecutive games three times this season, all within the last seven games ... EKU and Morehead State each garnered 58 points, Missouri State and Southern Illinois each tallied 76 and IUPUI and Marshall each recorded 68 points.
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