Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Trevecca Nazarene
Racers Welcome Trojans For Exhibition Monday
10/31/2021 2:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
2021-22 campaign begins with warm-up against DII Trevecca Nazarene
The Murray State women's basketball team will begin its 2021-22 season in earnest Monday night as it hosts Division II Trevecca Nazarene in an exhibition at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky at 5 p.m. Jeremy Rose will bring fans all the action live on WNBS 97.9 FM and ESPN+.
The Trojans went 6-6 in a COVID-19 abbreviated season last year and fell to Kentucky Wesleyan in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference season. Chad Hibdon enters his sixth season at the helm of the Trojans and is 44-78 overall during that time. Hibdon will have an extremely young team this year with 14 underclassmen, including 10 freshmen, five juniors and no seniors.
Despite returning just five letter winners from 2020-21, Trevecca will return 57.9-percent of its scoring and 48.1-percent of its rebounding. Sophomore Keely Carter led the Trojans in both scoring and rebounding last year at 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, while junior Faith Wilken finished second in scoring at 14.2 and third in rebounding at 6.1.
For the Racers, they will enter this season by being picked to finish third in the OVC this season by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. 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.
The Racers will return four of five starters from a year ago including Preseason All-OVC selections Macey Turley and Katelyn Young. The Racers finished 16-11 overall last season and 12-8 in the OVC marking the first time that an MSU squad has finished over .500 in both since 2008-2009. In addition, the Reacers' OVC tournament went over Southeast Missouri was the first postseason win for Murray State under Turner and the first overall since 2015-16. The Racers have now qualified for the OVC tournament in all four seasons of Turner's tenure.
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 from last year. 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.
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.
