Story by Gage Johnson
Sports Editor
gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s women’s basketball team will embark on the 2019-20 season without the talents of three integral pieces from last year’s team.
The Paducah Sun reported that junior forward Evelyn Adebayo, sophomore forward Brianna Crane and sophomore guard Janika Griffith-Wallace were transferring from the Racers.
Adebayo’s departure comes following a season in which she helped the Racers to a 13-17 record. The team placed sixth in the OVC with a record of 9-9 despite being voted to finish last in the conference in the preseason.
Adebayo was a major contributor offensively for the Racers, leading the team in scoring (18.2 ppg), rebounding (11.4 rpg) and finishing second behind freshman guard Lex Mayes in three-point shooting (36 percent).
The junior forward compiled multiple accolades after the regular season, earning a spot on the All-OVC Newcomer First Team, the OVC Newcomer of the Year Award and a spot on the All-OVC First Team.
After sitting out for a season after transferring from Gardner Webb University, Adebayo spent just the 2018-19 season on the floor for the Racers.
Griffith-Wallace became crucial to the Racers’ success by scoring in double figures in nine of their last 10 games to help them secure a spot in the OVC Tournament. She finished the season third in scoring, averaging 11.7 ppg.
Crane took a step forward in her offensive production in her second season, but made her largest leap outside of the stat sheet. She finished the season averaging 7.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg. She started 24 of the team’s 30 games while averaging 23.5 mpg.
The trio’s departure will leave a large hole in the team’s offense, as they accounted for nearly half of Murray State’s 60.1 ppg.
The roster currently has eight players returning and only has two recruits in Neelyville High School guard Jentri Worley and Allen County-Scottsville High School forward Sarah Sutton.
Worley was a McDonald’s All-American nominee averaging 20.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg in her senior season, while Sutton averaged 19 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 54.7 percent shooting to earn the District 15 Most Valuable Player Award.
The departures, including Michaela Manley, who graduated this year, mean that Murray State only has eight returners from last year’s team on the current roster.