Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
UT Martin
Players Mentioned
Racers Begin Road Swing With Skyhawks, Redhawks
1/10/2019 12:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dates (Time): Jan 10 & 12 (5:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.)
Opponent: UT Martin & Southeast Missouri
Site (Venue): Martin, Tenn. & Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Elam Center & Show-Me Center)
Audio: WFGS 103.7 FM [Thur.] & WNBS 1340 AM [Sat.] (PxP: Jeremy Rose)
TV/Web: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersWBB
MSU Record (Streak): 5-8, 1-1 OVC (Won 1)
UTM Record (Streak): 9-4, 1-1 OVC (Won 1)
All-Time Series vs. UTM (Streak): UTM leads 45-34 (Lost 4)
All-Time Series in Martin (Streak): UTM leads 25-14 (Lost 4)
Last Five vs. UTM: 1-4 (LLLLW)
SEMO Record (Streak): 6-7, 1-1 OVC (Lost 1)
All-Time Series vs. SEMO (Streak): SEMO leads 39-27 (Won 4)
All-Time Series in Cape Girardeau (Streak): SEMO leads 24-10 (Lost 6)
Last Five vs. SEMO: 1-4 (LLLLW)
MSU Next Game: Jan. 17 at Eastern Illinois
MSU Next Home Game: Jan. 24 vs. Belmont
This Weekend
The Murray State women's basketball team begins a four-game road trip this weekend with two of their closes OVC opponents, UT Martin and Southeast Missouri.
Last Time Out
The Racers went 1-1 in the opening weekend of OVC play with a loss Thursday to Morehead State and a win over Eastern Kentucky Saturday. Against Morehead State, the Racers could not overcome a sluggish fourth quarter and fell to Morehead State, 83-61. Macey Turley led Murray State with 14 points, while Brianna Crane followed with 10. Evelyn Adebayo nearly had her sixth double-double of the season as she finished with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, her sixth double-digit rebound performance of the season. For Crane, it marked her fourth consecutive game that she finished with double-digit points. Against the Colonels, the Racers got 20 points from their bench, including 12 from Alexis Burpo, to get their first OVC win, 81-63. Evelyn Adebayo picked up her sixth double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Lex Mayes followed with 16 points. In addition to Burpo's 12 points, she also added seven points. Janika Griffith-Wallace rounded out the MSU players in double-digits with 11 points, to go along with five assists.
The UT Martin Series
Thursday will be the 80th meeting all-time between the Racers and the Skyhawks with UTM leading the series 45-34. UT has s virtually owned the series as of late, winning each of the last four game, 11 of the last 12 and 17 of the last 19. Murray State is 14-25 all-time in Martin and has not won in the Elam Center since 2013, dropping each of the last five meeting there since.
Scouting The Skyhawks
With one of the most high-powered offenses in Division I, UT Martin enters the weekend averaging 83.9 points per game, the ninth most in the nation, while giving up 77.1. The Skyhawks are currently 9-4 on the year and 1-1 in league play with a loss at Eastern Illinois and a win over SEMO last week. Chelsey Perry leads a unique Skyhawk offense that sees 12 players average double-digit minutes with no single-player averaging above 28 with 11.7 points per game. In addition, Maddie Waldrop pulls down a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, to go along with 7.6 points.
The Southeast Missouri Series
Southeast Missouri leads the all-time series with the Racers, 39-27, and holds a 24-10 advantage in games played in Cape Girardeau. Recently, SEMO has won each of the last four meeting and seven of the last 10. In Cape, the Racers have dropped each of their last six game and have not won at the Show-Me center since 2011.
Scouting The Redhawks
The Redhawks are 6-7 and 1-1 on the year after winning at SIUE last weekend, but falling to Martin at home. Tesia Thompson leads the team with 17.2 points and 6.7 rebounds, per game, while Adrianna Murphy follows at 11.9 points and 3.4 assists. As a team, SEMO shoots 39.9-percent from the floor, 31.9-percent from 3-point range and 64.3-percent at the free-thrown line and averages 65.2 points, while allowing 66.6
A Win In Either Game Would...
Give the Racers their first win at UT Martin in six years and the first at SEMO in eight years.
Reunion
Thursday will be a reunion of sorts for head coach Recehelle Turner and players Lex Mayes, Macey Turley and Alexis Burpo. It will mark the first time that they have been on the court with former player/teammate Alexis Burpo since the latter graduated from Murray High two years ago.
Adding Up
With 25 points and 11 rebounds Evelyn Adebayo tallied her sixth double-double of the season. She currently leads the Racers with 18.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Working The Line
Thursday will be a battle of the two best free-throw shooting teams in the OVC. UT Martin currently leads the league at 76.8 percent, while the Racers follow at 76.2.
OK, What's Next?
The Racers continue a four-game road swing with games at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 17) and SIUE (Jan. 19).
