Murray State University Athletics
Sunday, November 21
St. Louis, Mo.
2 p.m.
Murray State
at
Saint Louis
The Racers will be facing Saint Louis for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign.
Photo by: Fred Mullane
Racers Headed to Saint Louis
11/19/2010 10:13:12 AM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State women's basketball team continues its seven-game road trip with a stop in St. Louis, Mo., to face Saint Louis at Chaiftez Arena, Sunday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.
Scouting Saint Louis
The Billikens are 1-2 on the season after a 62-69 loss at Butler Nov. 17. SLU will have one more chance to even its record before the Racers come to town. The Billikens face Arkansas State on the road, Friday, Nov. 19.
Lauren Woods and Kathryn Hester are the early scoring leaders for SLU, each averaging over 10 points per game. Woods is netting 16.3 points per game and adding 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 40.4 percent from the field. Hester averages 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and is shooting at a 44.4 percent pace. Lorreal Jones is the leading rebounder for the Billikens, with 8.3 per game.
As at team, SLU is shooting 34.5 percent from the field and allowing its opponents to score on 40.6 percent of their shots. Despite the losing record, the Billikens are out-rebounding their opponents, 39.7 to 34.3 per game.
The second half has been better for SLU. The Billikens have tallied 20 more points in the second stanza than the first so far this season (69-89), while their opponents have netted just four more (88-92).
The Series
The all-time series is currently tied at 4-4, but the Billikens have won the last four outings. The last meeting between the two teams was Nov. 25, 2000 when SLU earned a 62-73 win. Seven of the eight games in the series have been decided by 10-or-more points, with the lone exception being a 72-70 win by MSU (Dec. 10, 1994) in St. Louis, Mo.
Against the Atlantic 10
The Racers have played seven of the 14 schools in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The last time that MSU played a school from the conference was Nov. 26, 2004 when the Racers defeated Massachusetts, 56-50, in Chicago.
Lowe Double-Double
Junior Kayla Lowe had a strong performance for the Racers against Evansville. Not only did the Pikeville, Ky., native tally a career-high 10 rebounds, but she also recorded her first career double-double after adding 11 points. Lowe's previous high in the rebounding column was eight, set against Morehead State last season in the first round of the OVC Championship (March 2).
Continuing Streaks
Four members of the MSU team that returned from the 2009-10 season have continued streaks that they started a year ago. Junior Rachael Isom has been a key force for the Racers since last season, scoring at least one point in 38 straight games, recording a rebound in 17, adding an assist in seven and has started the last 33 games. Fellow junior Kayla Lowe has started the last 12 games and junior Mallory Schwab has a rebound in the last 11. Sophomore Mariah Robinson in the final returner with a streak, tallying a rebound in the last 17 games.
Jumping Right In
In the first two games of the season, several of the freshman have been called on to play significant minutes for MSU. Redshirt-freshman Jessica Winfrey has been a standout on the court after earning a starting position for the Racers. Winfrey is averaging 7.3 points and leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game, while also garnering five steals. Freshman Allison Karst has made the most of her time on the floor, averaging six points, 1.3 rebounds and one steal in an average of 10.7 minutes per game. Fellow rookie Mary Jehlik also made the most of her time, with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the first three games.
Mahurin Signs for 2011-12
Beth Mahurin, a 6-4 post player from Rockville High School in Rockville, Ind., will join the Racers starting in the 2011-12 campaign after signing during the early signing period.
Mahurin is a top scorer, rebounder and defender for the Rox. As a junior she averaged 17 points, 15 rebounds (third in the state), six blocks (first in the state) and a field goal percentage of 63. She is the top returning player in the state of Indiana in rebounds and blocks. Her 63.0 shooting percentage was third among Indiana players in 2009-10 and her 17 points per game rank her 13th among returners for Indiana.
During her junior season Mahurin was named the Indiana Fever Player of the Week following a 34 point, 24 rebound, and eight block performance. The two-time All- Wabash River Conference selection is also a standout in the classroom and is an honor roll student.
Mahurin had a very productive junior season that led her to being named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Junior All-State team and was a member of the Indiana Class All-Star 3/4A game participant. She was named a Pre-Season Hoosier Basketball Magazine All-State second team member as a junior and was recently elevated to the Pre-Season Hoosier Basketball Magazine All-State first team for her senior season as well as being a McDonald's All-American nominee.
No Senior Leadership
After fighting through an injury plagued year in 2009-10 the Murray State women's basketball team will be in a select group of NCAA DI teams this season that will allow them to use the drive and determination they discovered last year, as the roster has no seniors listed. The Racers are one of seven programs in the country with no seniors on the 2010-11 roster, a list which includes MSU opponent Purdue.
New Season New Name
Murray State University's Regional Special Events Center (RSEC) will now be known as the CFSB Center, thanks to the largest gift in Murray State athletics history. CFSB (Community Financial Services Bank) donated $3.3 million to MSU's athletic program securing naming rights of the facility.
Regional Rivalries Highlight 2010-11 Schedule
For the first time in four years, the Racers opened the season at home and MSU will continue regional rivalry series with Evansville and Southern Illinois. The Racers will hosted St. Catharine and Mid Continent Nov. 13 & 15 before hitting the road for the next month.
The Racers first road outing was at regional-rival Evansville (Nov. 17) and the team will then travel to face Saint Louis (Nov. 21).
The road trip continues into the month of December when the Racers travel to Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 2) and Morehead State (Dec. 4) for the early Ohio Valley Conference games. The final road game of the seven game road swing is scheduled for Dec. 12 in West Lafayette, Ind., where MSU is set to face perennial NCAA power Purdue.
The Racers will then return to the CFSB Center for one game against regional-rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 18) before starting the rest of the OVC season.
OVC Tournament Changes
This year the OVC Tournament will all be contested at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., from March 2-5. The top two teams in the regular-season standings will earn byes into the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. This is the first season that the conference will bring all eight teams to one venue for the entire tournament, as in the past the first-round games have been played on campus sites.
Up Next
The Racers will continue their seven-game road trip at the Lady Eagles Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Southern Miss, Nov. 26-27. MSU first faces No. 9 Kentucky, Friday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Racers will then play either the host Lady Eagles or Louisiana-Lafayette the following day.
Scouting Saint Louis
The Billikens are 1-2 on the season after a 62-69 loss at Butler Nov. 17. SLU will have one more chance to even its record before the Racers come to town. The Billikens face Arkansas State on the road, Friday, Nov. 19.
Lauren Woods and Kathryn Hester are the early scoring leaders for SLU, each averaging over 10 points per game. Woods is netting 16.3 points per game and adding 5.3 rebounds, while shooting 40.4 percent from the field. Hester averages 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and is shooting at a 44.4 percent pace. Lorreal Jones is the leading rebounder for the Billikens, with 8.3 per game.
As at team, SLU is shooting 34.5 percent from the field and allowing its opponents to score on 40.6 percent of their shots. Despite the losing record, the Billikens are out-rebounding their opponents, 39.7 to 34.3 per game.
The second half has been better for SLU. The Billikens have tallied 20 more points in the second stanza than the first so far this season (69-89), while their opponents have netted just four more (88-92).
The Series
The all-time series is currently tied at 4-4, but the Billikens have won the last four outings. The last meeting between the two teams was Nov. 25, 2000 when SLU earned a 62-73 win. Seven of the eight games in the series have been decided by 10-or-more points, with the lone exception being a 72-70 win by MSU (Dec. 10, 1994) in St. Louis, Mo.
Against the Atlantic 10
The Racers have played seven of the 14 schools in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The last time that MSU played a school from the conference was Nov. 26, 2004 when the Racers defeated Massachusetts, 56-50, in Chicago.
Lowe Double-Double
Junior Kayla Lowe had a strong performance for the Racers against Evansville. Not only did the Pikeville, Ky., native tally a career-high 10 rebounds, but she also recorded her first career double-double after adding 11 points. Lowe's previous high in the rebounding column was eight, set against Morehead State last season in the first round of the OVC Championship (March 2).
Continuing Streaks
Four members of the MSU team that returned from the 2009-10 season have continued streaks that they started a year ago. Junior Rachael Isom has been a key force for the Racers since last season, scoring at least one point in 38 straight games, recording a rebound in 17, adding an assist in seven and has started the last 33 games. Fellow junior Kayla Lowe has started the last 12 games and junior Mallory Schwab has a rebound in the last 11. Sophomore Mariah Robinson in the final returner with a streak, tallying a rebound in the last 17 games.
Jumping Right In
In the first two games of the season, several of the freshman have been called on to play significant minutes for MSU. Redshirt-freshman Jessica Winfrey has been a standout on the court after earning a starting position for the Racers. Winfrey is averaging 7.3 points and leads the team with 8.3 rebounds per game, while also garnering five steals. Freshman Allison Karst has made the most of her time on the floor, averaging six points, 1.3 rebounds and one steal in an average of 10.7 minutes per game. Fellow rookie Mary Jehlik also made the most of her time, with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the first three games.
Mahurin Signs for 2011-12
Beth Mahurin, a 6-4 post player from Rockville High School in Rockville, Ind., will join the Racers starting in the 2011-12 campaign after signing during the early signing period.
Mahurin is a top scorer, rebounder and defender for the Rox. As a junior she averaged 17 points, 15 rebounds (third in the state), six blocks (first in the state) and a field goal percentage of 63. She is the top returning player in the state of Indiana in rebounds and blocks. Her 63.0 shooting percentage was third among Indiana players in 2009-10 and her 17 points per game rank her 13th among returners for Indiana.
During her junior season Mahurin was named the Indiana Fever Player of the Week following a 34 point, 24 rebound, and eight block performance. The two-time All- Wabash River Conference selection is also a standout in the classroom and is an honor roll student.
Mahurin had a very productive junior season that led her to being named to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Junior All-State team and was a member of the Indiana Class All-Star 3/4A game participant. She was named a Pre-Season Hoosier Basketball Magazine All-State second team member as a junior and was recently elevated to the Pre-Season Hoosier Basketball Magazine All-State first team for her senior season as well as being a McDonald's All-American nominee.
No Senior Leadership
After fighting through an injury plagued year in 2009-10 the Murray State women's basketball team will be in a select group of NCAA DI teams this season that will allow them to use the drive and determination they discovered last year, as the roster has no seniors listed. The Racers are one of seven programs in the country with no seniors on the 2010-11 roster, a list which includes MSU opponent Purdue.
New Season New Name
Murray State University's Regional Special Events Center (RSEC) will now be known as the CFSB Center, thanks to the largest gift in Murray State athletics history. CFSB (Community Financial Services Bank) donated $3.3 million to MSU's athletic program securing naming rights of the facility.
Regional Rivalries Highlight 2010-11 Schedule
For the first time in four years, the Racers opened the season at home and MSU will continue regional rivalry series with Evansville and Southern Illinois. The Racers will hosted St. Catharine and Mid Continent Nov. 13 & 15 before hitting the road for the next month.
The Racers first road outing was at regional-rival Evansville (Nov. 17) and the team will then travel to face Saint Louis (Nov. 21).
The road trip continues into the month of December when the Racers travel to Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 2) and Morehead State (Dec. 4) for the early Ohio Valley Conference games. The final road game of the seven game road swing is scheduled for Dec. 12 in West Lafayette, Ind., where MSU is set to face perennial NCAA power Purdue.
The Racers will then return to the CFSB Center for one game against regional-rival Southern Illinois (Dec. 18) before starting the rest of the OVC season.
OVC Tournament Changes
This year the OVC Tournament will all be contested at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., from March 2-5. The top two teams in the regular-season standings will earn byes into the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. This is the first season that the conference will bring all eight teams to one venue for the entire tournament, as in the past the first-round games have been played on campus sites.
Up Next
The Racers will continue their seven-game road trip at the Lady Eagles Thanksgiving Classic, hosted by Southern Miss, Nov. 26-27. MSU first faces No. 9 Kentucky, Friday, Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Racers will then play either the host Lady Eagles or Louisiana-Lafayette the following day.
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