Murray State University Athletics
Thursday, January 26
Carbondale, Ill.
7:05 PM
Murray State
at
Southern Illinois
Photo by: Tab Brockman
Racers Ready to Renew Regional Rivalry Against Southern Illinois
1/25/2012 10:26:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State (8-11, 4-3 OVC) at Southern Illinois (4-14, 1-7 MVC)
Thursday - 7:05 p.m.
SIU Arena
Carbondale, Ill.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Live Stats
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team will play its final regular-season non-conference game, Thursday, Jan. 26 at SIU Arena when they face Southern Illinois at 7:05 p.m.
Scouting Southern Illinois
The Salukis are 4-14 overall and 1-7 in Missouri Valley Conference action this season after dropping nine of their last 10 games. SIU has already played four other members of the Ohio Valley Conference, going 1-3 against those teams.
The Salukis have two key players to watch in Teri Oliver and Cartaesha Macklin. Oliver contributes 18 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while adding 31 steals and shooting .409 from the field and .388 from beyond the arc. She has already attempted 152 triples this season and accounts for 41 percent of the team's three's taken and 47 percent of those made. Macklin is averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while adding 71 assists, 28 steals and shooting .356 from the field. The duo accounts for 46 percent of the team's total shots taken and 48 percent of those made.
SIU is close to its opponents in most statistical categories, with its biggest differences in points (-5.8) and rebound (-2.5). The only stat columns where they have advantages are blocks (4.9 to 3.6) and made triples per game (6.8 to 4.1).
The Series
The Salukis have a clear advantage in the all-time series and the Racers will be looking to end an 18-game losing streak to SIU. The Salukis lead the series 31-5, including a 16-2 mark when played in Carbondale, Ill. The last time MSU won a game against SIU was Nov. 25, 1988 (68-64) on the road.
Watson Doubling Down
Junior Kyra Watson has been making more of a mark on the season box score for the Racers recently. In MSU's 86-77 win over Longwood, the Aurora, Ill., native made a big mark by recording her first career, and just the team's second double-double of the season. Watson tallied career highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Dynamic Duo
Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess and junior Mariah Robinson both had outstanding games for the Racers against Longwood. The duo combined to be the first pair to record 20+ points in a game since Kayla Lowe (28) and Kayla Vance (24) did so against Morehead state (3/2/10). Burgess also made the Last Time It Happened List by recording 31 points and became the first to tally 30+ points in a game since Robinson recorded 44 at Jacksonville State (1/23/12). Robinson added 21 points against the Lancers for the duo mark.
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 964 points, just 36 away from the milestone and is averaging 15.8 points per game this season. She has played in 76 career games and could be one of the fastest to reach the milestone in MSU history.
Athlete (Year Reached 1,000 Pts.) - Games Taken
Shelia Smith (1986-87) - 57 games
Stephanie Minor (1996-97) - 61 games
Laura Lynn (1979-80) - 66 games
Michelle Wenning (1989-90) - 69 games
Jennifer Parker (1992-93) - 74 games
Amber Guffey (2007-08) - 77 games
Ashley N Hayes (2007-08) - 77 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Making Move Up or On Top-10 Lists
Three members of the team are currently on three top-10 lists at MSU. Junior Mariah Robinson is currently ranked No. 2 on the three's made chart, with 154. She is 56 from No. 1 (210-Amber Guffey). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 111 career triples, for the No. 9 spot. She is one from No. 8 (112-Brittany Park).
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab also earned her way onto the blocks top-10 list. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 48 blocks and is tied for No. 8. She needs five more to move up to No. 7 (53-Shaleea Petty).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 149 triples this season, 64.2 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 12 active players on the team, only one has not attempted a shot from beyond the arc and 7-of-11 have made at least one.
Taking Charge of Monday Night
After spending most of the first half of the season on the road the Racers are finally returning home and Monday nights are a big part of the action. Each Monday night for six weeks (Jan. 9-Feb. 13) MSU's women's basketball team will be hosting a game at the CFSB Center.
When the OVC schedule changed to have Saturday-Monday games for the women's teams in the conference the league implemented “Taking Charge of Monday Night” where each team is featured on OVCSports.com and the game they are playing will be featured free on OVCSports.TV. The Feb. 16 (Thursday) game against UTM is the Racers featured night.
Six-Time OVC Player of the Week
For the sixth time this season, red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess was named the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, for Jan. 17.
The Memphis, Tenn., native recorded 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the Racers victories over Tennessee Tech (76-72) and Jacksonville State (73-57) last week. The guard scored 17 points and brought down a career-best nine rebounds versus the Gamecocks. She also had 18 points against the Golden Eagles. She went 12-for-14 at the free throw line for the week.
Nifty-Fifty
Head Coach Rob Cross reached his first coaching win milestone with the Racers, 76-72, win over Tennessee Tech at the CFSB Center, Jan. 14, 2012. The win gave the fourth-year head coach his 50th career win in just his 108th game coached.
Shaking Up the Line-Up
The Racers have now used nine different starting line-ups this season, the second most for a Division I team this season. MSU has also started nine of their 12 players on the team, with only Erica Burgess earning a starting role in all 15 games this season.
Going for No. 500
The Racers are currently 497-640-2 in their 47th season of basketball. With three 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.
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 seven 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.
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
The Racers will return to OVC action, with a Monday, Jan. 30 game against Eastern Illinois at the CFSB Center (7 p.m.). MSU will then hit the road for two games, at Morehead State (Feb. 1) and UT Martin (Feb. 4).
Thursday - 7:05 p.m.
SIU Arena
Carbondale, Ill.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Live Stats
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team will play its final regular-season non-conference game, Thursday, Jan. 26 at SIU Arena when they face Southern Illinois at 7:05 p.m.
Scouting Southern Illinois
The Salukis are 4-14 overall and 1-7 in Missouri Valley Conference action this season after dropping nine of their last 10 games. SIU has already played four other members of the Ohio Valley Conference, going 1-3 against those teams.
The Salukis have two key players to watch in Teri Oliver and Cartaesha Macklin. Oliver contributes 18 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while adding 31 steals and shooting .409 from the field and .388 from beyond the arc. She has already attempted 152 triples this season and accounts for 41 percent of the team's three's taken and 47 percent of those made. Macklin is averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, while adding 71 assists, 28 steals and shooting .356 from the field. The duo accounts for 46 percent of the team's total shots taken and 48 percent of those made.
SIU is close to its opponents in most statistical categories, with its biggest differences in points (-5.8) and rebound (-2.5). The only stat columns where they have advantages are blocks (4.9 to 3.6) and made triples per game (6.8 to 4.1).
The Series
The Salukis have a clear advantage in the all-time series and the Racers will be looking to end an 18-game losing streak to SIU. The Salukis lead the series 31-5, including a 16-2 mark when played in Carbondale, Ill. The last time MSU won a game against SIU was Nov. 25, 1988 (68-64) on the road.
Watson Doubling Down
Junior Kyra Watson has been making more of a mark on the season box score for the Racers recently. In MSU's 86-77 win over Longwood, the Aurora, Ill., native made a big mark by recording her first career, and just the team's second double-double of the season. Watson tallied career highs of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Dynamic Duo
Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess and junior Mariah Robinson both had outstanding games for the Racers against Longwood. The duo combined to be the first pair to record 20+ points in a game since Kayla Lowe (28) and Kayla Vance (24) did so against Morehead state (3/2/10). Burgess also made the Last Time It Happened List by recording 31 points and became the first to tally 30+ points in a game since Robinson recorded 44 at Jacksonville State (1/23/12). Robinson added 21 points against the Lancers for the duo mark.
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 964 points, just 36 away from the milestone and is averaging 15.8 points per game this season. She has played in 76 career games and could be one of the fastest to reach the milestone in MSU history.
Athlete (Year Reached 1,000 Pts.) - Games Taken
Shelia Smith (1986-87) - 57 games
Stephanie Minor (1996-97) - 61 games
Laura Lynn (1979-80) - 66 games
Michelle Wenning (1989-90) - 69 games
Jennifer Parker (1992-93) - 74 games
Amber Guffey (2007-08) - 77 games
Ashley N Hayes (2007-08) - 77 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Making Move Up or On Top-10 Lists
Three members of the team are currently on three top-10 lists at MSU. Junior Mariah Robinson is currently ranked No. 2 on the three's made chart, with 154. She is 56 from No. 1 (210-Amber Guffey). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 111 career triples, for the No. 9 spot. She is one from No. 8 (112-Brittany Park).
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab also earned her way onto the blocks top-10 list. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 48 blocks and is tied for No. 8. She needs five more to move up to No. 7 (53-Shaleea Petty).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 149 triples this season, 64.2 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 12 active players on the team, only one has not attempted a shot from beyond the arc and 7-of-11 have made at least one.
Taking Charge of Monday Night
After spending most of the first half of the season on the road the Racers are finally returning home and Monday nights are a big part of the action. Each Monday night for six weeks (Jan. 9-Feb. 13) MSU's women's basketball team will be hosting a game at the CFSB Center.
When the OVC schedule changed to have Saturday-Monday games for the women's teams in the conference the league implemented “Taking Charge of Monday Night” where each team is featured on OVCSports.com and the game they are playing will be featured free on OVCSports.TV. The Feb. 16 (Thursday) game against UTM is the Racers featured night.
Six-Time OVC Player of the Week
For the sixth time this season, red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess was named the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, for Jan. 17.
The Memphis, Tenn., native recorded 17.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the Racers victories over Tennessee Tech (76-72) and Jacksonville State (73-57) last week. The guard scored 17 points and brought down a career-best nine rebounds versus the Gamecocks. She also had 18 points against the Golden Eagles. She went 12-for-14 at the free throw line for the week.
Nifty-Fifty
Head Coach Rob Cross reached his first coaching win milestone with the Racers, 76-72, win over Tennessee Tech at the CFSB Center, Jan. 14, 2012. The win gave the fourth-year head coach his 50th career win in just his 108th game coached.
Shaking Up the Line-Up
The Racers have now used nine different starting line-ups this season, the second most for a Division I team this season. MSU has also started nine of their 12 players on the team, with only Erica Burgess earning a starting role in all 15 games this season.
Going for No. 500
The Racers are currently 497-640-2 in their 47th season of basketball. With three 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.
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 seven 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.
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
The Racers will return to OVC action, with a Monday, Jan. 30 game against Eastern Illinois at the CFSB Center (7 p.m.). MSU will then hit the road for two games, at Morehead State (Feb. 1) and UT Martin (Feb. 4).
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