Murray State
Austin Peay
Players Mentioned
Racers Host Govs in Heritage Bank Battle of the Border
2/7/2018 11:20:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Date/Time: February 8/3 p.m.
Site: CFSB Center
Opponent (Record): Austin Peay (13-10, 6-6 OVC)
Murray State Record: 8-15, 4-8 OVC
Watch Live: OVC Digital Network
Listen Live: Froggy 103.7 FM (Jeremy Rose PxP)
Live Stats
All-Time Series: Murray State leads the all-time series 50-45
Last Meeting: @MSU 67, APSU 62 – Feb. 11, 2017
Murray State hosts Austin Peay Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m., in the first Heritage Bank Battle of the Border contest of the New Year. Thursday's contest is key for a variety of reasons, bragging rights, the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border standings and OVC Tournament implications.
The Racers are currently in eighth place in the OVC standings with the top eight making it to the OVC Tournament later this month in Evansville, Ind. The school-year long Battle of the Border competition awards points to the winner in all head-to-head meetings in all sports. Coming into the basketball doubleheader, the battle is tied 9-9.
MSU is coming off a pair of road losses last week at Southeast Missouri and UT Martin. The last time the Racers were at "The Bank" they notched a 75-68 victory over Eastern Kentucky. Including Thursday's contest, there are only three more home contests left this season.
Ke'Shunan James and Bria Bethea continue to be the top scoring duo in the OVC as James ranks second in the league in scoring at 21.4 points per game in league play while Bethea is fifth averaging 17.3 points per. Bethea has provided a huge offensive jolt for the Racers since beginning her reserve role January 13 at Tennessee Tech. In that seven-game stretch, Bethea is averaging 19.7 points per game on 48 percent shooting from the floor, including 49 percent from 3-point range and has four 20-plus point outings.
Austin Peay has a well-balanced offense with four players within two points of one another leading the team in scoring. Brianne Alexander is the only Governor averaging in double figures as she has a team-best 11.2 points per game. Falon Baker is second on the team in scoring at 9.9 points per and Brianah Ferby and Keisha Gregory are third, both averaging 9.3 points per contest.
The Govs are averaging 64.3 points per game in 2017-18 and are allowing 65.2 per. On the year, APSU is shooting nearly 40 percent from the floor and 33 percent from 3-point range.
