Story by Keith Jaco
Staff writer
rjaco@murraystate.edu
With playoff implications on the line, the Murray State women’s basketball team will look to continue to build its resume with two more wins in the final week of the season.
The Racers are playing their best basketball of the season as of late, winning five of their last six conference games as they head into a road matchup with Morehead State before returning home to face Austin Peay.
Looking Back:
Murray State enters the week coming off two close home wins, splitting the season series with UT Martin on Thursday, Feb. 21, and completing a sweep of Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Junior forward Evelyn Adebayo contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds in the Racers’ two wins, earning Newcomer of the Week honors from the OVC. Freshman guard Macey Turley had another strong weekend as well, averaging 17 ppg, 4.5 rpg and five apg, earning OVC Freshman of the Week.
Sophomore guard Janika Griffith-Wallace continued to shine for the Racers as well, averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.
Looking Ahead:
Murray State will get a chance to avenge an early season loss to Morehead State on Thursday, Feb. 28. The Eagles pose a serious threat, boasting an OVC second-best in scoring offense and steals, averaging 77.7 points and 11.0 spg.
Morehead State enters the week with two players in the top-five in scoring in the OVC. Senior guard Miranda Crockett is in second averaging 17.7 ppg while junor guard Aliyah Jeune is in fifth averaging 16.9 ppg.
The Racers will look to Adebayo for a big game after a lackluster performance in the last matchup with Morehead State, scoring nine points and suffering a team-high six turnovers.
Turner would like to see her team play with more energy and poise this time around.
“We can’t turn the ball over and give them multiple opportunities,” Turner said. “We have to rebound the basketball; they present major problems on the offensive glass, they’re a very athletic and skilled team. If we can continue to score the basketball and give the defensive effort, I think we’ll give ourselves a chance to win on Thursday.”
The Racers will return home Saturday, March 2, for a senior night matchup with APSU. Another matchup with the Governors means another chance for each school to add to their season point total in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border. Each school is rewarded points for wins against one another throughout the school year. Murray State currently leads APSU 18-9, but the Governors will have a chance to close the gap with men and women’s games this weekend.
The Governors got the best of Murray State in their last meeting, squeezing out a close 59-56 victory behind a 20 point, six rebound effort from senior guard Keisha Gregory.
With losses to Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and SEMO, the Governors are vulnerable to loss against a Murray State team that is heating up at the right point in the season.
Murray State will take on Morehead State at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28 in Morehead, Kentucky, and will return home for senior night against APSU at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the CFSB Center.