Murray State University Athletics
Cross Meets Press at OVC Media Day; Burgess Named Preseason All-OVC
10/23/2012 4:42:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State Women's Basketball head coach Rob Cross met with media outlets from around the league today at the 2012 OVC Basketball Media Day at the Embassy Suites in Franklin, Tenn.
Cross spent the day answering questions from the local and conference press, taping interviews and promoting the 2012-13 edition of the Racers.
Also at the event, it was announced that junior Erica Burgess was named to the 2012-13 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team. The Memphis, Tenn. native averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in OVC action and added a .405 shooting mark, 64 assists and five blocks in her first year with the Racers. Burgess was named OVC Newcomer of the Week six times during the 2011-12 season and finished the campaign averaging 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. She also earned second team All-OVC and All-Newcomer team honors and the end of last year.
“We are very excited for Erica,” said Rob Cross. “This is a great honor for her after putting together such a great year last season in her first year in the league.. This just shows the amount of respect that OVC coaches and sports information directors have for her. While this award is great, Erica understands that what really matters at the end of the day is team success.”
Also announced on Tuesday, were the results of the preseason OVC poll in which the Racers finished fourth in the west division. The 2011-12 Racers went 13-18 overall and 8-8 in the league to finish fifth overall in the OVC before the new east and west divisions were put in place this year.
“We are excited to start a new season,” said Cross. “We are thrilled with our returners and the influx of new talent we have this season. I believe that this team has the potential to make an extended postseason run this year.”
The Racers will kick-off their 2012-12 campaign on November 9 when they host in-state rival Western Kentucky at the CFSB Center at 5:15 p.m.
2012-13 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team
Name, School - Pos. - Ht. - Cl. - Hometown
Ta'Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois - G - 5-8 - Sr. - Michigan City, Ind.
Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin - G- 5-7 - Jr. - Millington, Tenn.
Heather Butler, UT Martin - G - 5-6 - Jr. - Medina, Tenn.
Raven Berry, SIUE - F/C - 6-1 - Sr. - Collinsville, Ill.
Mariah King, Eastern Illinois - F - 6-2 - Sr. - Chicago, Ill.
Erica Burgess, Murray State - G - 5-6 - Jr. - Memphis, Tenn.
Jasmin Shuler, Tennessee State - G - 5-8 - Sr. - Clarksville, Tenn.
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech - G - 5-5 - Sr. - Madison, Ala.
Sydney Mitchell, Eastern Illinois - F - 6-1 - Sr. - Columbus, Ind.
Marie Carpenter, Eastern Kentucky - G - 5-8 - Jr. - Nashville, Tenn.
Preseason Player of the Year: Heather Butler, UT Martin
2012-13 Preseason OVC Predicted Order of Finish
EAST
Order of Finish - Points
1. Tennessee Tech (15) - 121
2. Eastern Kentucky (6) - 108
3. Belmont (3) - 86
4. Morehead State - 69
5. Tennessee State - 68
6. Jacksonville State - 40
WEST
Order of Finish - Points
1. UT Martin (19) - 129
2. Eastern Illinois (5) - 113
3. SIU Edwardsville - 86
4. Murray State - 77
5. Austin Peay - 47
6. Southeast Missouri - 39
First-place votes are in parentheses.
Cross spent the day answering questions from the local and conference press, taping interviews and promoting the 2012-13 edition of the Racers.
Also at the event, it was announced that junior Erica Burgess was named to the 2012-13 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team. The Memphis, Tenn. native averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in OVC action and added a .405 shooting mark, 64 assists and five blocks in her first year with the Racers. Burgess was named OVC Newcomer of the Week six times during the 2011-12 season and finished the campaign averaging 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. She also earned second team All-OVC and All-Newcomer team honors and the end of last year.
“We are very excited for Erica,” said Rob Cross. “This is a great honor for her after putting together such a great year last season in her first year in the league.. This just shows the amount of respect that OVC coaches and sports information directors have for her. While this award is great, Erica understands that what really matters at the end of the day is team success.”
Also announced on Tuesday, were the results of the preseason OVC poll in which the Racers finished fourth in the west division. The 2011-12 Racers went 13-18 overall and 8-8 in the league to finish fifth overall in the OVC before the new east and west divisions were put in place this year.
“We are excited to start a new season,” said Cross. “We are thrilled with our returners and the influx of new talent we have this season. I believe that this team has the potential to make an extended postseason run this year.”
The Racers will kick-off their 2012-12 campaign on November 9 when they host in-state rival Western Kentucky at the CFSB Center at 5:15 p.m.
2012-13 Preseason All-OVC Women's Basketball Team
Name, School - Pos. - Ht. - Cl. - Hometown
Ta'Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois - G - 5-8 - Sr. - Michigan City, Ind.
Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin - G- 5-7 - Jr. - Millington, Tenn.
Heather Butler, UT Martin - G - 5-6 - Jr. - Medina, Tenn.
Raven Berry, SIUE - F/C - 6-1 - Sr. - Collinsville, Ill.
Mariah King, Eastern Illinois - F - 6-2 - Sr. - Chicago, Ill.
Erica Burgess, Murray State - G - 5-6 - Jr. - Memphis, Tenn.
Jasmin Shuler, Tennessee State - G - 5-8 - Sr. - Clarksville, Tenn.
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech - G - 5-5 - Sr. - Madison, Ala.
Sydney Mitchell, Eastern Illinois - F - 6-1 - Sr. - Columbus, Ind.
Marie Carpenter, Eastern Kentucky - G - 5-8 - Jr. - Nashville, Tenn.
Preseason Player of the Year: Heather Butler, UT Martin
2012-13 Preseason OVC Predicted Order of Finish
EAST
Order of Finish - Points
1. Tennessee Tech (15) - 121
2. Eastern Kentucky (6) - 108
3. Belmont (3) - 86
4. Morehead State - 69
5. Tennessee State - 68
6. Jacksonville State - 40
WEST
Order of Finish - Points
1. UT Martin (19) - 129
2. Eastern Illinois (5) - 113
3. SIU Edwardsville - 86
4. Murray State - 77
5. Austin Peay - 47
6. Southeast Missouri - 39
First-place votes are in parentheses.
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