Murray State University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Turley, Turner, Young Kickoff Season at OVC Media Day
10/21/2021 5:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Racers ready to kick 2021-22 season into high gear
The Murray State women's basketball team officially began the preseason for the 2021-22 season Thursday with the annual OVC Media Day. Head coach Rechelle Turner and 2021-22 Preseason All-OVC selections Macey Turley and Katelyn Young took questions from the local media and created content for the upcoming season.
The 2021-22 Media Day come on the heels of the Racers being picked to finish third in the OVC this season by the league's head coaches and sports information directors Tuesday. The third-place finish in the poll marks the highest for the Racers since being picked second prior to the 2008-09 season. That season was also the last time MSU received any first-place votes in the poll until Tuesday, when they received three.
Turley had an outstanding junior season, averaging 17.6 points, 3.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds. She shot 40.2-percent from the field, finished in the league in 3-point percentage and first in free throw percentage at 37.2 and 92.3, respectively. Her free throw percentage was also the fourth-best in the nation, thanks in large part to her school record consecutive free throw streak of 45. Last, the Murray native became the school's 20th member of the 1,000-point club and now sits as the school's 13th all-time leading scorer with 1,293 points.
For Young, her first season as a Racer was nothing short of remarkable, averaging 14.1 points per game to go along with a league-high 9.3 rebounds per game. In addition, her 50.2 field goal percentage led the league last season, as did her tally for double-doubles at 10. The Oakwood, Illinois native was not only impressive throughout the season, but consistent as well, netting seven OVC Freshman of the Week awards on the year.
While Turley and Young will definitely play key roles for Murray State this season, they will be far from the only ones making an impact, as the Racers return 10 letterwinners and four starters from a season ago. With four starters and six additional players returning for 2021-22, Murray State will retain 82.4-percent of its scoring and 67.6-percent of its rebounding from last season.
Reagan Blackburn, Alexis Burpo and Lex Mayes all return for their senior season, as well as redshirt junior Macie Gibson. Rounding out the returners is a talented group of sophomores that includes Hannah McKay, Lucia Operto, Bria Sanders-Woods and Charlee Settles. Newcomers for the Racers this season include junior college transfer Isabelle West and freshmen Demia Bess, Jaidah Black, Cayson Conner, Takiya Howard and Claira McGowan.
In addition to the new players, former Murray High and Butler High head girl's coach Wyatt Foust joined Turner's staff during the offseason as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations. Foust was the only new addition to the staff this season, as assistants Amber Guffey and Monica Evans each return for their fourth season, while Sarah Jones returns for her second.
Fans will get their first peek at the latest edition of the Racers Nov. 1 when they host Trevecca Nazarene at the CFSB Center in an exhibition game. Eight days later, Murray State will officially begin its 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 when it welcomes Asbury to the CFSB Center for a rare 11 a.m. tip.
The 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament will be held March 2-5 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, the fifth-straight year the event has been held at the venue.
Racer Mania
Racer Nation is looking forward to Racer Mania – Presented by The Murray Bank (Oct. 28) at the CFSB Center. It's a free admission event in which the first 1,000 fans will receive a schedule poster for the Racer men's and women's teams. Doors to the arena open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 6:30 p.m.
Mini-Ticket Plans Available
Racer Basketball Navy & Gold Mini Ticket Plans
Fans can purchase season tickets and the Navy & Gold Mini ticket plans at Racer Mania. The mini plans are a great way for Racer Nation to enjoy Murray State games with general admission tickets. Each mini plan is $50 for one general admission ticket to five games. All of the games offered in the ticket plans are doubleheaders except for the stand-alone men's game vs Middle Tennessee (Dec. 4). Call the ticket office at (270) 809-3000 to purchase a ticket plan.
NAVY TICKET PLAN
Dec. 4, 2021    Sat.       Middle Tennessee (MBB ONLY)
Dec. 30, 2021  Thu.     Southeast Missouri (DH)
Jan. 22, 2022   Sat.      UT Martin (DH)
Jan. 29, 2022   Sat.      Morehead State (DH)
Feb. 17, 2022   Thu.     Austin Peay (DH)
GOLD TICKET PLAN
Dec. 18, 2021   Sat.      Lipscomb (MBB vs. Chattanooga)
Jan. 1, 2022     Sat.      Tennessee Tech (DH)
Jan. 20, 2022   Thu.     Eastern Illinois (DH)
Feb. 5, 2022    Sat.      SIUE (DH)
Feb. 24, 2022  Thu.     Belmont (DH)
Racer Basketball Legacy Fund
The new fundraising initiative invites Racer supporters to have a lasting impact on the Murray State men's and women's basketball programs. Those interested in learning more about how you can support the Racer Basketball Legacy Fund initiative may contact Director of Development-Athletics, Taylor Mudd at (270) 809-3517 or tmudd3@murraystate.edu for more information.
