Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Illinois
Players Mentioned
Racers Travel To EIU & SIUE This Weekend
2/19/2020 9:36:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Date (Time): Feb. 20 & 22 (5:15 p.m./4:30 p.m.)
Opponents: Eastern Illinois & SIUE
Site (Venue): Charleston, Ill. (Lantz Arena)/Edwardsville, Ill. (Vadalabene Center)
Audio: WBZB 104.5/WNBS 1340 AM (PxP: Jeremy Rose)
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersWBB
MUR Record (Streak): 12-13, 5-9 OVC (Won 1)
EIU Record (Streak): 15-10, 9-5 OVC (Lost 1)
All-Time Series vs. EIU (Streak): Racers lead 33-20 (Won 2)
All-Time Series in Murray (Streak): Panthers lead 13-11 (Lost 1)
Last Five vs. EIU: 4-1 (WWLWW)
SIUE Record (Streak): 3-22, 1-13 OVC (Lost 12)
All-Time Series vs. SIUE (Streak): Cougars lead 12-9 (Won 2)
All-Time Series in Murray (Streak): Cougars lead 7-3 (Lost 1)
Last Five vs. SIUE: 2-3 (WWLLL)
MUR Next Game: Feb. 27 vs. Eastern Ky.
MUR Next Home Game: Feb. 27 vs. Eastern Ky.
The Games
The Murray State women's basketball team looks to improve its standing in the OVC when it embarks on its final road trip of the season to the Land of Lincoln. The Racers will open the road swing at Eastern Illinois Thursday, followed by SIUE Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Murray State women's basketball team split its game last week, falling at Austin Peay, but bouncing back with a win over Morehead State home. The Racers led for over 30 minutes at Austin Peay but were not able to the lead. Against Morehead, MSU was determined to not let the game slip away and shot 53.8-percent in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Macey Turley led the Racers against Morehead State with 23 points, while Alexis Burpo and Laci Hawthorne each notched double-doubles. Hawthorne also had a strong showing against Austin Peay with 15 points and nine boards.
The Eastern Illinois Series
The Racers lead the Panthers in the all-time series 33-20 and have won eight of the last nine meetings. Eastern Illinois put an end to a six-game win streak by the Racers last season in Charleston, but the Racers have bounced back with two straight overtime wins in Murray. In Charleston, the Panthers hold the all-time series lead, as they have won 13 of 24 meetings.
Scouting The Panthers
After splitting a pair of overtime games last week, the Panthers are now 15-10 overall and 9-5 in OVC play. Eastern Illinois is currently averaging 67.7 points per game, while allowing 62.2 points per game. The Panthers are currently shooting 40.6-percent from the floor, 32.8-percent from 3-point range and 71.6-percent from the free throw line. Karle Pace currently leads four Panthers in double-digits with 15.7 points per game. On the boards, freshman Lariah Washington leads the way for EIU with 5.2 rebounds per game, while also scoring 11.4.
The SIUE Series
Saturday will be just the 21st all-time meeting between the two schools, with SIUE leading 12-8. After routing the Racers in Edwardsville last season, the Cougars had their five-game win-streak in the series snapped a month later in Murray. The win for MSU at home last season also evened the series between the two teams at The Bank, with each team now having won five of those 10 meetings.
Scouting The Cougars
The Cougars will enter the weekend at 3-22 overall and 1-13 in OVC play. SIUE currently has the lowest scoring average in the league at 56.9 points per game and the third-most points per game allowed at 70.0. Allie Troeckler currently leads SIUE in scoring and rebounding with 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Mikayla Kinnard and Christen King have stepped up and are averaging 7.6 and 6.3 points per game, respectively.
Eight Is Great
Laci Hawthorne averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds over a 1-1 week for the Racers on the way to her eighth OVC Newcomer of the Week honor of the season. The Fort Worth, Texas native began the week with a 15-point, nine-rebound performance against Austin Peay, followed by 11 points and 10 rebounds against Morehead State. Hawthorne finished the week shooting 47.8-percent from the floor and added four assists, a steal and two blocks.
Wins This Weekend Would...
By all accounts, Murray State needs both wins this weekend as it is currently eighth in the OVC standings and likely needs both wins to hang on to the last spot in the OVC tournament.
