Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
North Alabama
Players Mentioned
Racers Close Non-Conference Slate at North Alabama
12/12/2020 4:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
MSU makes first-ever trip to Florence for first game with Lions in over 40 years
Date (Time): Dec. 14 (6 p.m.)
Opponent: North Alabama
Site (Venue):Â Florence, Ala. (Flowers Hall)
Audio: 1340 WNBS AM (PxP: Jeremy Rose)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersWBB
MUR Record (Streak): 2-2 (Won 1)
UNA Record (Streak): 0-5 (Lost 5)
All-Time Series vs. UNA (Streak): MUR leads 1-0 (Won 1)
All-Time Series in Florence (Streak): Series tied 0-0 (---)
First Meeting: W 84-52 (Dec. 15, 1978; Martin, Tenn.)
Last Meeting: W 84-52 (Dec. 15, 1978; Martin, Tenn.)
Last Five vs. UNA: 1-0 (W----)
MUR Next Game: Dec. 19 vs. Austin Peay
MUR Next Home Game: Dec. 19 vs. Austin Peay
The Game
The Murray State women's basketball team travels to Florence, Alabama Monday in search of its first road win of the 2020-21 season against the Lions of North Alabama. Tip-off from Flowers Hall is schedule for 6 p.m. on ESPN+, WNBS 1340 AM and the Zeno Radio app.
Scouting The Lions
The Lions are out to a rough 0-5 start to the season after losing to fellow mid-majors Austin Peay and most recently, Samford, as well as Power 5 schools Missouri, Purdue and West Virginia. The start is disappointing for UNA, especially after it finished last season at 21-9 overall, 11-5 in the Atlantic Sun which was good for a second-place finish.
However, the Lions did lose all five starters from last year's team and eight of 12 letterwinners. Currently, UNA is averaging 68.4 points per game, while allowing 84.6. The Lions like to shoot threes and are currently averaging 4.6 more attempts than the Racers, but are making them at a significantly lower clip. The Lions are currently shooting 25.0-percent from 3-point range, while the Racers are shooting 33.3-percent.
Jaila Roberts currently leads three Lions that average double-digits with 14.6, while Macey Lee follows at 11.4 and Jaida Bond at 10.0. Roberts also leads UNA in rebounds at 6.6 per game, as well as assists at 5.8.
Last Time vs. North Alabama
The Racers and Lions have met on just one previous occasion over 40 years ago. In the lone meeting, Murray State picked up a neutral site win over UNA, 84-52. Monday's meeting will come up just one day short of being 42 years to the day since the first meeting on Dec. 15, 1978.
A Lex Flex
Junior Lex Mayes scored a game-high 22 points Tuesday on 8-of-10 shooting a 6-for-8 clip from beyond the arc. Additionally, her 22 points, eight field goals and six 3-point field goals were all new career-highs.
Group Effort
For the second time this season, the Racers had five players in double-digits against Mississippi Valley. Last season, against DI competition, the Racers only accomplished the feat three times.
Hot Shots
Through four games this season, Murray State is averaging 77.3 points per game, that is 10.6 points per game more than it averaged last year. The Racers have already scored 80-plus points three times this season, a feat they only accomplished four times last season against DI competition.
A Win Monday Would...
A win Monday would give the Racers their first road win of the season and a 3-2 mark in the abbreviated non-conference segment of their schedule.
Deep Analysis
Another indicator of the Racers trending upwards this season are their averages in "analysis" stats. So far this season MSU is either keeping pace with or has surpassed last year's total in all four categories. The biggest increase so far, thanks mostly to the increased height of this year's team has been in points in the paint where the Racers have picked up 8.9 points per game.
Category                    19-20  20-21  Diff.
Pts. Off TOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 15.1Â Â Â Â 13.8Â Â Â Â -1.3
Pts. In Paint               28.4    37.0    +8.6
2nd Chance Pts.         13.4    17.5    +4.1
Fast Break Pts.           7.5         10.8       +2.3
Â
