Murray State University Athletics
Racers Finishing Up Regular-Season at Eastern Kentucky
2/26/2010 5:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Murray State women's basketball team will play its final regular-season game, Saturday, Feb.27 at Eastern Kentucky. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at McBrayer Arena in Richmond, Ky.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels are currently 12-15 overall and 8-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference standings after falling to UT Martin Thursday (Feb. 25) in Richmond.
EKU currently has one main scoring and rebounding threat, in Alex Jones. Jones is averaging 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Colonels this season. Talisha Davis was also averaging double-digit points before being injured and missing the last 12 games. Jones is a strong shooter, with a 49.8 shooting percentage from the field (121-of-243). Brittany Coles is next on the scoring charts, with 7.6 points per game. Coles has taken 26.6% of the team's three-point shots on the season (103 of 387), but has connected on just 24 of them (23.3%).
The Colonels like to score in the paint, as they average just four three-point shots a game. EKU recorded 24 of its 58 points earlier this season against the Racers in the paint.
Ball control will be a key to the game, as the Colonels are averaging 21.9 turnovers per game, while their opponents are committing only 16.8. EKU is also behind in steals per game, with its opponents recording 10.2 per game to the Colonels 7.7.
However, both MSU and EKU are strong blocking teams. The Racers average 3.8 per game and the Colonels block 3.4 opponents shots per outing.
EKU's opponents have had better second-half offensive performances this season. The Colonels opponents have tallied 158 more points (719/877) in the second 20 minutes, while EKU has netted just 53 more.
Against the Colonels
In the first meeting between the Racers and EKU this season, the Colonels earned a close 58-54 victory in the Regional Special Events Center. EKU opened the game with strong defense, holding MSU without a field-goal for close to eight minutes at the start of the game. The Colonels had a 10-point lead before the Racers scored and despite a strong push from MSU, EKU never relinquished the advantage.
Senior Kayla Vance led the team with 10 points, while freshman Mariah Robinson added nine points and six rebounds. Sophomore Rachael Isom was also a top performer for MSU, with seven points and rebounds.
Talisha Davis and Alex Jones each contributed 12 points for the Colonels, while Jones also added 14 rebounds. Cherie White was the only other EKU player with a double-digit point total, with 10.
The Series
The Colonels have a 50-27 advantage in the all-time series, but the Racers have been working at turning that around since 2006. MSU has been the winner in seven of the last 10 outings, including three of the last five in Richmond, Ky.
Tournament Bound
With their win over Southeast Missouri State (Feb. 18), the Racers cliched a spot in the 2010 OVC Women's Basketball Championship opening round. MSU is guaranteed to play Tuesday, March 2, but will have to wait until the remaining regular-season games are completed to find out what place they will finish in and who they will face on the road. The winners of the first round games will advance to the OVC Championship to be played March 5-6 at the Bridgestone Arena (formally the Sommet Center) in Nashville, Tenn.
Kayla Konnecting
Senior Kayla Vance had an outstanding game for the Racers against Tennessee Tech. The West Paducah, Ky., native tallied a career-high 27 points against the Golden Eagles, including a career-best 10 field goals. The 27 points also represents the most points scored by a Racer in a single game this season. The previous high was 26, tallied twice by sophomore Rachael Isom.
Isom Earns Academic All-District Honors
Sophomore Rachael Isom was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 4 Second Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA). A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Isom has a 4.00 GPA while majoring in English.
Isom is the third women's basketball player in the last three seasons to earn a spot on the All-District 4 teams. Amber Guffey and Paige Guffey earned Academic All-District 4 second and third team honors in 2007-08 and then moved up to first team selections in 2008-09. The duo was also named to the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, with Amber Guffey earning Academic All-America of the Year honors.
Lowe's Highs
Sophomore Kayla Lowe may have missed 14 games due to injury this season, but since her return she has been stepping up and filling in a key role for MSU; scoring. The Pikeville, Ky., native recently more than doubled her career high in the points column. Lowe tallied 21 points against UT Martin and also set career bests for field goals (7), three-point field goals (4), and free throws (3).
Three Point Streak
The Racers currently have the No. 10 active three-point scoring streak in NCAA DI women's basketball, at 317 games. The streak dates back to Nov. 27, 1999 against Belmont. Canisius College is leading the list, with an NCAA-record 481-straight games scoring at least one shot from beyond the arc. Southeast Missouri State is the only other team from the conference in the top-10, at No. 7 (371).
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 seven different members of the roster lead the team in scoring this season. Senior Kayla Vance is leading the way with 14 games in the top-scoring position, with and sophomore Rachael Isom having done so eight times. Senior Mallory Luckett has topped the scoring charts four times. Sophomore Mallory Schwab and freshman Mariah Robinson have been the leading scorers twice, with sophomores Kayla Lowe and Kristen Kluempers each leading the team once.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE!!!!
Senior Mallory Luckett accomplished a feat that only one other Racer player had done in school history when she recorded a triple-double in the Racers, 78-49, victory over Jacksonville State. The Louisville, Ky., native tallied 14 points, a career-high 11 assists and 10 rebounds to join Karen Johnson as the only MSU women's players to garner a triple-double. Johnson earned the Racers' first during the 1987-88 campaign.
Her 11 assists ranked her No. 7 on the MSU all-time assists in a game list and marks the first time since the 2001-02 season that a Racer has tallied double-digit assists in a single game.
National Recognition
Murray State might not have the best overall record, but the team is currently ranked in the top-100 of eight national statistical categories and has three players ranked in the top-100 in five individual categories as of Feb. 21.
The Racers top ranking is in three point field goals made per game, at No. 21 (7.4). The Racers are also No. 42 in three-point field goal defense (28.7), No. 55 in scoring offense (70.0), No. 58 in turnovers (16.0), No. 67 in free-throw percentage (72.1), No. 68 in turnover margin (2.19), No. 72 in assist/turnover ratio (0.84) and No. 75 in three-point field-goal percentage (34.3).
Mallory Luckett leads the team with three individual top-100 rankings. The Louisville, Ky., native is in the No. 18 spot for assists (5.6), No. 22 in assist/turnover ratio (2.04) and No. 4 in triple-doubles (1.0). Senior Kayla Vance is No. 53 for her 83.1 free-throw percentage and freshman Jessica Holder is No. 97 for her 1.4 blocks per game.
Up Next
The Racers will have to wait until the conclusion of the final regular-season games in the OVC to find out where they will be heading for Tuesday's first-round game of the 2010 OVC Championships. Winners of the first-round games advance to play in Nashville, March 5-6 at Bridgestone Arena.
Noteables
Freshman Jessica Holder tallied a career-high five blocks against Morehead State...the Racers held the Eagles, the nation's leading three-point shooting team (10.5 per game), to just four triples.
Scouting Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels are currently 12-15 overall and 8-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference standings after falling to UT Martin Thursday (Feb. 25) in Richmond.
EKU currently has one main scoring and rebounding threat, in Alex Jones. Jones is averaging 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for the Colonels this season. Talisha Davis was also averaging double-digit points before being injured and missing the last 12 games. Jones is a strong shooter, with a 49.8 shooting percentage from the field (121-of-243). Brittany Coles is next on the scoring charts, with 7.6 points per game. Coles has taken 26.6% of the team's three-point shots on the season (103 of 387), but has connected on just 24 of them (23.3%).
The Colonels like to score in the paint, as they average just four three-point shots a game. EKU recorded 24 of its 58 points earlier this season against the Racers in the paint.
Ball control will be a key to the game, as the Colonels are averaging 21.9 turnovers per game, while their opponents are committing only 16.8. EKU is also behind in steals per game, with its opponents recording 10.2 per game to the Colonels 7.7.
However, both MSU and EKU are strong blocking teams. The Racers average 3.8 per game and the Colonels block 3.4 opponents shots per outing.
EKU's opponents have had better second-half offensive performances this season. The Colonels opponents have tallied 158 more points (719/877) in the second 20 minutes, while EKU has netted just 53 more.
Against the Colonels
In the first meeting between the Racers and EKU this season, the Colonels earned a close 58-54 victory in the Regional Special Events Center. EKU opened the game with strong defense, holding MSU without a field-goal for close to eight minutes at the start of the game. The Colonels had a 10-point lead before the Racers scored and despite a strong push from MSU, EKU never relinquished the advantage.
Senior Kayla Vance led the team with 10 points, while freshman Mariah Robinson added nine points and six rebounds. Sophomore Rachael Isom was also a top performer for MSU, with seven points and rebounds.
Talisha Davis and Alex Jones each contributed 12 points for the Colonels, while Jones also added 14 rebounds. Cherie White was the only other EKU player with a double-digit point total, with 10.
The Series
The Colonels have a 50-27 advantage in the all-time series, but the Racers have been working at turning that around since 2006. MSU has been the winner in seven of the last 10 outings, including three of the last five in Richmond, Ky.
Tournament Bound
With their win over Southeast Missouri State (Feb. 18), the Racers cliched a spot in the 2010 OVC Women's Basketball Championship opening round. MSU is guaranteed to play Tuesday, March 2, but will have to wait until the remaining regular-season games are completed to find out what place they will finish in and who they will face on the road. The winners of the first round games will advance to the OVC Championship to be played March 5-6 at the Bridgestone Arena (formally the Sommet Center) in Nashville, Tenn.
Kayla Konnecting
Senior Kayla Vance had an outstanding game for the Racers against Tennessee Tech. The West Paducah, Ky., native tallied a career-high 27 points against the Golden Eagles, including a career-best 10 field goals. The 27 points also represents the most points scored by a Racer in a single game this season. The previous high was 26, tallied twice by sophomore Rachael Isom.
Isom Earns Academic All-District Honors
Sophomore Rachael Isom was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 4 Second Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA). A native of Cleveland, Tenn., Isom has a 4.00 GPA while majoring in English.
Isom is the third women's basketball player in the last three seasons to earn a spot on the All-District 4 teams. Amber Guffey and Paige Guffey earned Academic All-District 4 second and third team honors in 2007-08 and then moved up to first team selections in 2008-09. The duo was also named to the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team, with Amber Guffey earning Academic All-America of the Year honors.
Lowe's Highs
Sophomore Kayla Lowe may have missed 14 games due to injury this season, but since her return she has been stepping up and filling in a key role for MSU; scoring. The Pikeville, Ky., native recently more than doubled her career high in the points column. Lowe tallied 21 points against UT Martin and also set career bests for field goals (7), three-point field goals (4), and free throws (3).
Three Point Streak
The Racers currently have the No. 10 active three-point scoring streak in NCAA DI women's basketball, at 317 games. The streak dates back to Nov. 27, 1999 against Belmont. Canisius College is leading the list, with an NCAA-record 481-straight games scoring at least one shot from beyond the arc. Southeast Missouri State is the only other team from the conference in the top-10, at No. 7 (371).
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 seven different members of the roster lead the team in scoring this season. Senior Kayla Vance is leading the way with 14 games in the top-scoring position, with and sophomore Rachael Isom having done so eight times. Senior Mallory Luckett has topped the scoring charts four times. Sophomore Mallory Schwab and freshman Mariah Robinson have been the leading scorers twice, with sophomores Kayla Lowe and Kristen Kluempers each leading the team once.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE!!!!
Senior Mallory Luckett accomplished a feat that only one other Racer player had done in school history when she recorded a triple-double in the Racers, 78-49, victory over Jacksonville State. The Louisville, Ky., native tallied 14 points, a career-high 11 assists and 10 rebounds to join Karen Johnson as the only MSU women's players to garner a triple-double. Johnson earned the Racers' first during the 1987-88 campaign.
Her 11 assists ranked her No. 7 on the MSU all-time assists in a game list and marks the first time since the 2001-02 season that a Racer has tallied double-digit assists in a single game.
National Recognition
Murray State might not have the best overall record, but the team is currently ranked in the top-100 of eight national statistical categories and has three players ranked in the top-100 in five individual categories as of Feb. 21.
The Racers top ranking is in three point field goals made per game, at No. 21 (7.4). The Racers are also No. 42 in three-point field goal defense (28.7), No. 55 in scoring offense (70.0), No. 58 in turnovers (16.0), No. 67 in free-throw percentage (72.1), No. 68 in turnover margin (2.19), No. 72 in assist/turnover ratio (0.84) and No. 75 in three-point field-goal percentage (34.3).
Mallory Luckett leads the team with three individual top-100 rankings. The Louisville, Ky., native is in the No. 18 spot for assists (5.6), No. 22 in assist/turnover ratio (2.04) and No. 4 in triple-doubles (1.0). Senior Kayla Vance is No. 53 for her 83.1 free-throw percentage and freshman Jessica Holder is No. 97 for her 1.4 blocks per game.
Up Next
The Racers will have to wait until the conclusion of the final regular-season games in the OVC to find out where they will be heading for Tuesday's first-round game of the 2010 OVC Championships. Winners of the first-round games advance to play in Nashville, March 5-6 at Bridgestone Arena.
Noteables
Freshman Jessica Holder tallied a career-high five blocks against Morehead State...the Racers held the Eagles, the nation's leading three-point shooting team (10.5 per game), to just four triples.
Indiana State VS Murray State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Friday, May 22
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
