Murray State University Athletics
Thursday, March 1
Nashville, Tenn.
Noon
Murray State
vs
No. 8 Austin Peay
Racers Head to Music City Madness at 2012 OVC Championship
2/29/2012 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
No. 4 Murray State (12-1, 8-8 OVC) vs. No. 8 Austin Peay (8-21, 5-11 OVC)
Thursday - Noon
Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live (Free) I Live Stats I OVC Championship Central
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team will be making its 14th-consecutive trip and 19th overall to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. The Racers earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament and a first-round bye. MSU will face No. 8 Austin Peay, Thursday, March 1 at noon in Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Scouting Austin Peay
The Lady Govs ended the 2011-12 regular season with an 8-21 overall mark and a 5-11 record in OVC action. In the final weekend of play, APSU fell to UT Martin (62-86) and then defeated Southeast Missouri (88-84) in a must win to make the conference tournament.
Whitney Hanley is the big threat for the Lady Govs. Hanley averages 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while adding 67 assists, 10 blocks, 41 steals and .440 overall and .333 three-point shooting marks. The rest of the starters and key reserves average between seven and eight points per game.
As a team, APSU is shooting .403 from the field and allows its opposition to hit at a .429 mark. The Lady Govs have seven players on their team that are shooting .400 or better this season. The rest of the statistical categories on the season box score are close.
Against the Lady Govs
The Racers and APSU have met twice this season, with the Lady Govs earning wins in both outings. Senior Kayla Lowe leads MSU against APSU this season, averaging 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Junior Mariah Robinson adds 15 points and 5.5 boards per game, while red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess has averaged 12.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Whitney Hanley led the Lady Govs with an average of 24 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Leslie Martinez added 14.5 points and eight boards per outing.
The Series
After the Lady Govs picked up two wins this season against the Racers they evened the all-time series at 42-all. A game against APSU would be just the third on a neutral floor, with the Lady Govs holding a 2-0 advantage.
In the Tournament
In the 19 times the Racers have participated in the OVC Championship, MSU has gone 6-10 in the quarterfinals (what used to be the first round). A match-up with Morehead State would be just the third in tournament history, with both teams having earned a win. It would be the fourth meeting between MSU and APSU, with the Lady Govs having won all three previous meetings.
Burgess Being Honored
Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess made a name or herself early this season in the OVC and has been rewarded for her efforts throughout the year. The Memphis, Tenn., native was named to both the All-OVC Second Team and the OVC All-Newcomer Team for the 2011-12 campaign. Burgess averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in league action and added a .405 shooting mark, 64 assists and five blocks. Burgess was also honored by College Sports Madness, as an All-OVC Second Team pick.
Joining the 500 Club
The Racers became the sixth team from the OVC to record the programs 500th victory when they defeated SEMO, 63-62 in the CFSB Center. The game was also the team's 108th win in the CFSB Center. MSU is now 501-646-2 in their 47th season of basketball. The Racers join Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech in the club.
1,000 Point Club Membership
Junior Mariah Robinson earned her membership in the 1,000 Point Club at Murray State, Feb. 1, 2012 against Morehead State. The Beaver Dam, Ky., native became the 18th member of the club and the ninth Racer to do so during her junior campaign. Robinson took 79 career games to reach the milestone and is the eighth fastest in MSU history. She currently has 1,065 points and is 13th on the career points list at MSU.
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
Mariah Robinson (2011-12) - 79 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Dynamic Duos
For the second time in the 2011-12 season a duo of players combined for 20+ points each. Senior Mallory Schwab garnered a career-high 26 points and junior Mariah Robinson added 25 against Morehead State. Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess (31) and Robinson (21) both had outstanding games for the Racers against Longwood. 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).
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 169. She is 41 from No. 1 (210-Amber Guffey). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 137 career triples, good for the No. 4 spot. She is two from No. 3 (143-Ashley B. Hayes).
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab also earned her way onto the blocks top-10 list. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 55 blocks and is tied for No. 5. She needs five more to move up to No. 4 (60-Monika Gadson).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 215 triples this season, 92.7 percent of the school record for the most three's in a season (232 - 2008-09). This is just the third season that MSU has tallied over 200 three-point shots. The Racers also made 230 in the 2009-10 campaign. 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.
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 11 different starting line-ups this season, the second most for a Division I team this season. The only other team with more this season is Austin Peay with 14 different starting line-up combinations. MSU has also started nine of their 12 players on the team, with only Erica Burgess earning a starting role in all the Racers games this season.
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 eight 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.
Up Next
A win Thursday would pit the Racers against No. 1 UT Martin, Friday, March 2 at noon in Municipal Arena in semifinal action.
Thursday - Noon
Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live (Free) I Live Stats I OVC Championship Central
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team will be making its 14th-consecutive trip and 19th overall to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. The Racers earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament and a first-round bye. MSU will face No. 8 Austin Peay, Thursday, March 1 at noon in Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Scouting Austin Peay
The Lady Govs ended the 2011-12 regular season with an 8-21 overall mark and a 5-11 record in OVC action. In the final weekend of play, APSU fell to UT Martin (62-86) and then defeated Southeast Missouri (88-84) in a must win to make the conference tournament.
Whitney Hanley is the big threat for the Lady Govs. Hanley averages 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, while adding 67 assists, 10 blocks, 41 steals and .440 overall and .333 three-point shooting marks. The rest of the starters and key reserves average between seven and eight points per game.
As a team, APSU is shooting .403 from the field and allows its opposition to hit at a .429 mark. The Lady Govs have seven players on their team that are shooting .400 or better this season. The rest of the statistical categories on the season box score are close.
Against the Lady Govs
The Racers and APSU have met twice this season, with the Lady Govs earning wins in both outings. Senior Kayla Lowe leads MSU against APSU this season, averaging 16 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Junior Mariah Robinson adds 15 points and 5.5 boards per game, while red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess has averaged 12.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Whitney Hanley led the Lady Govs with an average of 24 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Leslie Martinez added 14.5 points and eight boards per outing.
The Series
After the Lady Govs picked up two wins this season against the Racers they evened the all-time series at 42-all. A game against APSU would be just the third on a neutral floor, with the Lady Govs holding a 2-0 advantage.
In the Tournament
In the 19 times the Racers have participated in the OVC Championship, MSU has gone 6-10 in the quarterfinals (what used to be the first round). A match-up with Morehead State would be just the third in tournament history, with both teams having earned a win. It would be the fourth meeting between MSU and APSU, with the Lady Govs having won all three previous meetings.
Burgess Being Honored
Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess made a name or herself early this season in the OVC and has been rewarded for her efforts throughout the year. The Memphis, Tenn., native was named to both the All-OVC Second Team and the OVC All-Newcomer Team for the 2011-12 campaign. Burgess averaged 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in league action and added a .405 shooting mark, 64 assists and five blocks. Burgess was also honored by College Sports Madness, as an All-OVC Second Team pick.
Joining the 500 Club
The Racers became the sixth team from the OVC to record the programs 500th victory when they defeated SEMO, 63-62 in the CFSB Center. The game was also the team's 108th win in the CFSB Center. MSU is now 501-646-2 in their 47th season of basketball. The Racers join Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee Tech in the club.
1,000 Point Club Membership
Junior Mariah Robinson earned her membership in the 1,000 Point Club at Murray State, Feb. 1, 2012 against Morehead State. The Beaver Dam, Ky., native became the 18th member of the club and the ninth Racer to do so during her junior campaign. Robinson took 79 career games to reach the milestone and is the eighth fastest in MSU history. She currently has 1,065 points and is 13th on the career points list at MSU.
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
Mariah Robinson (2011-12) - 79 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Dynamic Duos
For the second time in the 2011-12 season a duo of players combined for 20+ points each. Senior Mallory Schwab garnered a career-high 26 points and junior Mariah Robinson added 25 against Morehead State. Red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess (31) and Robinson (21) both had outstanding games for the Racers against Longwood. 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).
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 169. She is 41 from No. 1 (210-Amber Guffey). Senior Kayla Lowe also joined Robinson on the list, with her 137 career triples, good for the No. 4 spot. She is two from No. 3 (143-Ashley B. Hayes).
Fellow senior Mallory Schwab also earned her way onto the blocks top-10 list. The Martinsville, Ind., native has 55 blocks and is tied for No. 5. She needs five more to move up to No. 4 (60-Monika Gadson).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 215 triples this season, 92.7 percent of the school record for the most three's in a season (232 - 2008-09). This is just the third season that MSU has tallied over 200 three-point shots. The Racers also made 230 in the 2009-10 campaign. 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.
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 11 different starting line-ups this season, the second most for a Division I team this season. The only other team with more this season is Austin Peay with 14 different starting line-up combinations. MSU has also started nine of their 12 players on the team, with only Erica Burgess earning a starting role in all the Racers games this season.
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 eight 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.
Up Next
A win Thursday would pit the Racers against No. 1 UT Martin, Friday, March 2 at noon in Municipal Arena in semifinal action.
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