Murray State University Athletics
Saturday, December 31
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
1:00 PM
Murray State
at
Southeast Missouri
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Ready to Open OVC Season Against the Redhawks
12/29/2011 7:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Murray State (3-8, 0-0 OVC) at Southeast Missouri (3-11, 0-1 OVC)
Saturday - 1 p.m.
Show Me Center
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live I Live Stats
The Game
After an 11-day break for the holidays, the Murray State women's basketball team will return to the court and open the Ohio Valley Conference portion of the season in the same game. The Racers will next face Southeast Missouri, Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Scouting Southeast Missouri
The Redhawks are 3-11 overall and 0-1 in the OVC after a 61-57 loss to Morehead State, Dec. 28. SEMO has played four home games so far this season and is 2-2 in those contests.
The Redhawks have 11 players, nine who are playing regularly. The trio of Bailie Roberts, Brittany Harriel and Karley Evans are the team's leaders. The group accounts for 50 percent of the shots taken by the team this season and 55 percent of those made. The number increases to 57 taken and 58 percent made from beyond the arc. Roberts is averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Harriel is netting 7.7 points and 6.6 boards per outing, while shooting .416 from the field. Evans adds 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds and has dished out 23 assists.
SEMO spreads out its scoring and rebounding, but as a team is averaging just 49.5 points per game and allowing 63.6. The Redhawks are close, but trail in most statistical categories and are shooting .321 on the season to a .391 mark from their opponents.
The Series
The game with the Redhawks will be the 53rd in the all-time series that dates back to 1974. When playing in Cape Girardeau, Mo., SEMO holds an 18-9 advantage, but the Racers have won the last two games in the Show Me Center and the last meeting in the series (Feb. 17, 2011 - W, 54-34).
Opening the OVC Season
The game against the Redhawks will be the 34th Ohio Valley Conference opener, with the Racers having a 16-17 record in the first league game of the season. MSU is also 5-11 when playing the first OVC game on the road. This will be the first time that the Racers have opened the conference season against SEMO.
Four-Time OVC Player of the Week
For the second-straight week and the fourth time this season, red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess was named the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, for Dec. 20 and Dec. 27.
The Memphis, Tenn., native led the Racers in both games of the Magnolia Classic hosted by Mississippi, Dec. 19-20. The guard tallied 19 points in each game and added 15 rebounds, while adding 10 assists and 11 steals.
Ranking Among the Nations Best
MSU has found itself ranked in the top-20 in three NCAA statistical categories, and is just one of two schools to be ranked in all three. The Racers join women's basketball powerhouse Connecticut in the top-20 in three-point field goals made, steals and turnover margin.
MSU's high pressure style of play and defensive intensity, despite a heavy road schedule, has led the Racers to be ranked No. 13 is steals per game, with 13.4 per outing and No. 14 in turnover margin, forcing 7.22 more turnovers per game. UConn is ranked 14th in steals (13.4) and fifth (8.4) in turnover margin.
Both teams are also strong three-point shooting teams making over seven triples per game. The Huskies are No. 14, with 8.0 per outing, while the Racers are ranked No. 13 (7.9).
Making Move Up or On Top-10 Lists
Three members of the team are currently on or close to making their mark on three top-10 lists at MSU. Junior Mariah Robinson is currently ranked No. 7 on the three's made chart, with 122. She is just two from No. 6 (124-Ashley N. Hayes). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 96 career triples, for the No. 10 spot.
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab is also making an effort to get on a top-10 list, blocks. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 43 blocks to her name and the chart start at 46 (four players).
1,000 Point Club Membership
Junior Mariah Robinson is cruising along to a membership in the 1,000 Point Club at Murray State. The Beaver Dam, Ky., native is looking to become the 18th member of the club and would be the ninth Racer to do so during her junior campaign. Robinson currently has 827 points, just 173 away from the milestone and is averaging 14.8 points per game this season.
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 86 triples this season, 37.1 percent of the school record for the most three's in a season (232). MSU has a season-high of 15 made in a single game (vs. Mid-Con) and has recorded the same or more triples than its opponents in every game this season. Of the 13 active players on the team, only three have not attempted a shot from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 have made at least one.
Going for No. 500/50
The Racers are currently 492-635-2 in their 47th season of basketball. With eight more wins the team will record its 500 victory. The 500th win for MSU would make the Racers the sixth team in the conference to record over 500 wins. MSU would join Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech in the club. With two more wins head coach Rob Cross will also reach his 50th career win.
High Pressure Defense
The new high-pressure defense that the Racers are playing this season has forced three of their opponents into 30+ turnovers and five more into 20+ turnovers. This is the first time since at least 1996-97, when individual game stats are available, that the team has forced more than one opponent into 30+ turnovers. The most forced during that span was 39 (Nov. 18, 2009) by Mid-Continent. So far this season MSU has forced Mid-Con into 33, Ball State into 32 and Evansville into 31. Overall the Racers have forced 217 turnovers and have committed just 153.
Jessica's Missing for the Season
Both of the Racers players named Jessica, Jessica Winfrey and Jessica Holder, will miss the 2011-12 campaign due to injury. Winfrey was a key starter for the Racers last year, while Holder was sidelined for most of the 2010-11 campaign due to injury as well.
Up Next
MSU will continue its road trip and the OVC season with a stop in Charleston, Ill., to face Eastern Illinois. Game time is set for 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 2 at Lantz Arena. The final stop of the six-game road swing will be in Clarksville, Tenn. (Jan. 7) to battle with Austin Peay.
Saturday - 1 p.m.
Show Me Center
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live I Live Stats
The Game
After an 11-day break for the holidays, the Murray State women's basketball team will return to the court and open the Ohio Valley Conference portion of the season in the same game. The Racers will next face Southeast Missouri, Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Scouting Southeast Missouri
The Redhawks are 3-11 overall and 0-1 in the OVC after a 61-57 loss to Morehead State, Dec. 28. SEMO has played four home games so far this season and is 2-2 in those contests.
The Redhawks have 11 players, nine who are playing regularly. The trio of Bailie Roberts, Brittany Harriel and Karley Evans are the team's leaders. The group accounts for 50 percent of the shots taken by the team this season and 55 percent of those made. The number increases to 57 taken and 58 percent made from beyond the arc. Roberts is averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Harriel is netting 7.7 points and 6.6 boards per outing, while shooting .416 from the field. Evans adds 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds and has dished out 23 assists.
SEMO spreads out its scoring and rebounding, but as a team is averaging just 49.5 points per game and allowing 63.6. The Redhawks are close, but trail in most statistical categories and are shooting .321 on the season to a .391 mark from their opponents.
The Series
The game with the Redhawks will be the 53rd in the all-time series that dates back to 1974. When playing in Cape Girardeau, Mo., SEMO holds an 18-9 advantage, but the Racers have won the last two games in the Show Me Center and the last meeting in the series (Feb. 17, 2011 - W, 54-34).
Opening the OVC Season
The game against the Redhawks will be the 34th Ohio Valley Conference opener, with the Racers having a 16-17 record in the first league game of the season. MSU is also 5-11 when playing the first OVC game on the road. This will be the first time that the Racers have opened the conference season against SEMO.
Four-Time OVC Player of the Week
For the second-straight week and the fourth time this season, red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess was named the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, for Dec. 20 and Dec. 27.
The Memphis, Tenn., native led the Racers in both games of the Magnolia Classic hosted by Mississippi, Dec. 19-20. The guard tallied 19 points in each game and added 15 rebounds, while adding 10 assists and 11 steals.
Ranking Among the Nations Best
MSU has found itself ranked in the top-20 in three NCAA statistical categories, and is just one of two schools to be ranked in all three. The Racers join women's basketball powerhouse Connecticut in the top-20 in three-point field goals made, steals and turnover margin.
MSU's high pressure style of play and defensive intensity, despite a heavy road schedule, has led the Racers to be ranked No. 13 is steals per game, with 13.4 per outing and No. 14 in turnover margin, forcing 7.22 more turnovers per game. UConn is ranked 14th in steals (13.4) and fifth (8.4) in turnover margin.
Both teams are also strong three-point shooting teams making over seven triples per game. The Huskies are No. 14, with 8.0 per outing, while the Racers are ranked No. 13 (7.9).
Making Move Up or On Top-10 Lists
Three members of the team are currently on or close to making their mark on three top-10 lists at MSU. Junior Mariah Robinson is currently ranked No. 7 on the three's made chart, with 122. She is just two from No. 6 (124-Ashley N. Hayes). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 96 career triples, for the No. 10 spot.
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab is also making an effort to get on a top-10 list, blocks. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 43 blocks to her name and the chart start at 46 (four players).
1,000 Point Club Membership
Junior Mariah Robinson is cruising along to a membership in the 1,000 Point Club at Murray State. The Beaver Dam, Ky., native is looking to become the 18th member of the club and would be the ninth Racer to do so during her junior campaign. Robinson currently has 827 points, just 173 away from the milestone and is averaging 14.8 points per game this season.
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 86 triples this season, 37.1 percent of the school record for the most three's in a season (232). MSU has a season-high of 15 made in a single game (vs. Mid-Con) and has recorded the same or more triples than its opponents in every game this season. Of the 13 active players on the team, only three have not attempted a shot from beyond the arc and 8-of-11 have made at least one.
Going for No. 500/50
The Racers are currently 492-635-2 in their 47th season of basketball. With eight more wins the team will record its 500 victory. The 500th win for MSU would make the Racers the sixth team in the conference to record over 500 wins. MSU would join Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech in the club. With two more wins head coach Rob Cross will also reach his 50th career win.
High Pressure Defense
The new high-pressure defense that the Racers are playing this season has forced three of their opponents into 30+ turnovers and five more into 20+ turnovers. This is the first time since at least 1996-97, when individual game stats are available, that the team has forced more than one opponent into 30+ turnovers. The most forced during that span was 39 (Nov. 18, 2009) by Mid-Continent. So far this season MSU has forced Mid-Con into 33, Ball State into 32 and Evansville into 31. Overall the Racers have forced 217 turnovers and have committed just 153.
Jessica's Missing for the Season
Both of the Racers players named Jessica, Jessica Winfrey and Jessica Holder, will miss the 2011-12 campaign due to injury. Winfrey was a key starter for the Racers last year, while Holder was sidelined for most of the 2010-11 campaign due to injury as well.
Up Next
MSU will continue its road trip and the OVC season with a stop in Charleston, Ill., to face Eastern Illinois. Game time is set for 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 2 at Lantz Arena. The final stop of the six-game road swing will be in Clarksville, Tenn. (Jan. 7) to battle with Austin Peay.
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