Murray State University Athletics
Friday, March 2
Nashville, Tenn.
Noon
Murray State
vs
No. 1 UT Martin
Photo by: Tab Brockman
No. 4 Racers Face No. 1 UT Martin in OVC Semifinals
3/1/2012 6:19:00 PM | Women's Basketball
No. 4 Murray State (13-17, 8-8 OVC) vs. No. 1 UT Martin (21-8, 15-1 OVC)
Friday - Noon
Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live (ESPN3) I Live Stats I OVC Championship Central
The Game
The No. 4 Murray State women's basketball team will continue its stay in Nashville, Tenn., at the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Championship at Municipal Arena. The Racers win over Austin Peay in the quarterfinals advanced MSU into the semifinals against No. 1 UT Martin, Friday, March 2 at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.com.
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks claimed the 2012 OVC Regular-Season title after finishing the year with a 15-1 league record and a 21-8 mark overall.
UTM has two players that stand out on the season box score. Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome are not only averaging double-digits, they are both averaging around 20 points per game. Butler is contributing 23.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing, shooting .435 from the field, .438 from beyond the arc and adds 39 steals. Newsome is netting 19.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, shooting .445 from the field, .350 from three-point range and adds 172 assists, 59 steals and 17 blocks. The duo accounts for 53 percent of the overall and 51 percent of three-point shots made this season.
While the rest of the team may not be averaging as many points, they are still threats, as the Skyhawks are making 44 percent of their shots this season and 38 percent of those from beyond the arc. Their strong shooting has rubbed off on their opponents, as they are making 43 percent of their overall shots and 32 percent of those from three-point range. The game may become a three-point shoot out with the Racers. UTM is averaging 10.3 three's made per game, while MSU is netting 7.3 per game.
Against the Skyhawks
UTM earned wins in the two regular-season meetings with the Racers this season. The Skyhawks used strong overall shooting percentages (.461 to .360) and a high number of triples made (10.5 to 7.5) to claim the wins.
MSU was led by red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess in the games, with 26.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, while shooting .457 from the field. Senior Kayla Lowe added 15 points and 4.5 rebounds per outings, while shooting .500 from the field and .533 from three-point range.
Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome led the way for the Skyhawks. Butler tallied 34.5 points per game and shot .463 overall and .400 from beyond the arc. Newsome added 21.5 points and 11 boards per game, while shooting .448 from the field and .400 from beyond the arc.
The Series
After two losses this season to UTM, the Skyhawks have taken a 33-32 lead in the all-time series. The current winning streak for UTM is five games. This is the second meeting in the OVC tournament with the Skyhawks, with the Racers earning a win in the first game, March 2, 2007 (66-65 OT).
In the Tournament
In the 19 times the Racers have participated in the OVC Championship, MSU has gone 7-10 in the quarterfinals (what used to be the first round) and 4-5 in the semifinals. The meeting with the Skyhawks is just the second in tournament history, with the Racers earning a 66-65 overtime win in the semifinals in 2007.
Making the Most of Her Last Games
Senior Mallory Schwab was not ready for her career in a navy and gold uniform to come to an end and helped push the momentum of the game against Austin Peay in the OVC tournament. The Martinsville, Ind., native tallied her first career double-double, with 18 points and a career-best 11 rebounds.
Watson Stepping Up
Junior Kyra Watson had one of the best games of her career against the Lady Govs in the quarterfinals of the OVC tournament. The Aurora, Ill., native garnered a career-best 23 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Watson shot .818 (9-of-11) from the field and was 5-of-7 at the charity stripe.
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 502-646-2 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 1,086 points and is 12th 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 (2009-2012) - 79 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Dynamic Duos
For the third time in the 2011-12 season a duo of players combined for 20+ points each. Juniors Kyra Watson and Mariah Robinson tallied 23 and 21 points, respectively, against APSU (3/1/12). Senior Mallory Schwab garnered a career-high 26 points and Robinson added 25 against Morehead State (2/1/12). 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 171. She is 39 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 57 blocks and is No. 5. She needs three more to move up to No. 4 (60-Monika Gadson).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 220 triples this season, 94.8 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 Friday would put the Racers into the championship game at 4:30 p.m. in Municipal Arena.
Friday - Noon
Municipal Auditorium
Nashville, Tenn.
Game Notes I Listen Live I Watch Live (ESPN3) I Live Stats I OVC Championship Central
The Game
The No. 4 Murray State women's basketball team will continue its stay in Nashville, Tenn., at the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Championship at Municipal Arena. The Racers win over Austin Peay in the quarterfinals advanced MSU into the semifinals against No. 1 UT Martin, Friday, March 2 at noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.com.
Scouting UT Martin
The Skyhawks claimed the 2012 OVC Regular-Season title after finishing the year with a 15-1 league record and a 21-8 mark overall.
UTM has two players that stand out on the season box score. Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome are not only averaging double-digits, they are both averaging around 20 points per game. Butler is contributing 23.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per outing, shooting .435 from the field, .438 from beyond the arc and adds 39 steals. Newsome is netting 19.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, shooting .445 from the field, .350 from three-point range and adds 172 assists, 59 steals and 17 blocks. The duo accounts for 53 percent of the overall and 51 percent of three-point shots made this season.
While the rest of the team may not be averaging as many points, they are still threats, as the Skyhawks are making 44 percent of their shots this season and 38 percent of those from beyond the arc. Their strong shooting has rubbed off on their opponents, as they are making 43 percent of their overall shots and 32 percent of those from three-point range. The game may become a three-point shoot out with the Racers. UTM is averaging 10.3 three's made per game, while MSU is netting 7.3 per game.
Against the Skyhawks
UTM earned wins in the two regular-season meetings with the Racers this season. The Skyhawks used strong overall shooting percentages (.461 to .360) and a high number of triples made (10.5 to 7.5) to claim the wins.
MSU was led by red-shirt sophomore Erica Burgess in the games, with 26.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, while shooting .457 from the field. Senior Kayla Lowe added 15 points and 4.5 rebounds per outings, while shooting .500 from the field and .533 from three-point range.
Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome led the way for the Skyhawks. Butler tallied 34.5 points per game and shot .463 overall and .400 from beyond the arc. Newsome added 21.5 points and 11 boards per game, while shooting .448 from the field and .400 from beyond the arc.
The Series
After two losses this season to UTM, the Skyhawks have taken a 33-32 lead in the all-time series. The current winning streak for UTM is five games. This is the second meeting in the OVC tournament with the Skyhawks, with the Racers earning a win in the first game, March 2, 2007 (66-65 OT).
In the Tournament
In the 19 times the Racers have participated in the OVC Championship, MSU has gone 7-10 in the quarterfinals (what used to be the first round) and 4-5 in the semifinals. The meeting with the Skyhawks is just the second in tournament history, with the Racers earning a 66-65 overtime win in the semifinals in 2007.
Making the Most of Her Last Games
Senior Mallory Schwab was not ready for her career in a navy and gold uniform to come to an end and helped push the momentum of the game against Austin Peay in the OVC tournament. The Martinsville, Ind., native tallied her first career double-double, with 18 points and a career-best 11 rebounds.
Watson Stepping Up
Junior Kyra Watson had one of the best games of her career against the Lady Govs in the quarterfinals of the OVC tournament. The Aurora, Ill., native garnered a career-best 23 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Watson shot .818 (9-of-11) from the field and was 5-of-7 at the charity stripe.
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 502-646-2 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 1,086 points and is 12th 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 (2009-2012) - 79 games
Jackie Mounts (1977-78) - 80 games
Dynamic Duos
For the third time in the 2011-12 season a duo of players combined for 20+ points each. Juniors Kyra Watson and Mariah Robinson tallied 23 and 21 points, respectively, against APSU (3/1/12). Senior Mallory Schwab garnered a career-high 26 points and Robinson added 25 against Morehead State (2/1/12). 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 171. She is 39 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 57 blocks and is No. 5. She needs three more to move up to No. 4 (60-Monika Gadson).
Three Point Season
The Racers have made 220 triples this season, 94.8 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 Friday would put the Racers into the championship game at 4:30 p.m. in Municipal Arena.
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