Nick Kendall
Staff Writer
nkendall1@murraystate.edu
While the Murray State women’s basketball program took a step forward last season, it will face the tough challenge of replacing its top- two scorers from a season ago with a young squad.
Now a redshirt senior, former Racer forward Evelyn Adebayo transferred to play for perennial college basketball powerhouse University of Connecticut.
Adebayo played one year at Murray State and started in all 30 games. She led the team in scoring with 18.2 ppg, and in rebounds, averaging 11.4 per game.
The London, England, native also set a single-season record with 19 double-doubles and tied the Murray State record for consecutive double-doubles with seven.
The Racers will also miss out on the output from former junior guard Janika Griffith-Wallace.
The Racers’ second leading scorer last season transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University, which finished second last year in the Atlantic 10 conference after finishing 11th the year before.
Griffith-Wallace left Murray State averaging 11.7 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Losing two important players is tough, Head Coach Rechelle Turner admits, but she believes her newcomers and transfers will be able to fill the void.
“Everybody wants to talk about who left and we’re not focused on that,” Turner said. “We’re focused on the players that want to be at Murray State. Our kids are working hard and we’re going to continue the process every single day.”
A player Turner believes can make an impact quickly is redshirt freshman forward Macie Gibson, who has finally recovered from an injury.
“We’re gonna have to have her rebounding abilities,” Turner said. “She’s gonna have to push her big body around and give us some physicality but her ability to stretch the defensive offensively is gonna open things up on the inside for [Cekeya] Mack because we’re gonna have to honor Gibson at the three-point line. She is one of our purest shooters. She is gonna bring a lot of bigs out on the floor.”
Turner also credits sophomore guard Macey Turley for being named to the Preseason All-OVC First Team.
“Not many freshmen carry the load that young lady carried last year,” Turner said. “Just being thrown out there playing almost 40 minutes a game and being expected to bring the ball up the floor. It’s just really good to see her receive the accolade that she deserved.”
Turner expects Turley to have a better season because according to the third-year head coach despite her winning OVC Freshman of the Year last season, the sophomore guard still thinks she could’ve played better.
“Her percentages last year in shooting were not what she’s capable of doing,” Turner said. “I know those are going to get better. In just a year of experience and getting used to the speed of the game and to understand new ways to attack—I think she’ll have an even better year.”
In terms of culture, nothing has changed. Turner still has the team focused on working as a unit and bringing success to the whole program.
“The chemistry is as good as it’s ever been,” Turner said. “This bunch has really bought in on the ‘We over Me’ that we really stress. This is probably the hardest-working team I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
A rebuild for any team is difficult, but Turner is ready and even excited, as she is known for not backing down from a challenge.
“We’re continuing to build,” Turner said. “We knew it was gonna take some time and I feel like we’re gonna take another step forward this year, and we’re really excited about our 2020 recruiting class and excited about the players we’re going after in the future.”
Turner drives home that if her team works hard and plays for each other, good things will happen.
Leadership is paramount for a young team like the Racers. Turley and senior forward Cekeya Mack have taken on that role for the most part, but Turner believes everyone can be a leader in their own way.
“We have some kids who have stepped up verbally and have said ‘hey, this isn’t how we do things, this is how we do things,’” Turner said. “I think leaders come in all shapes and sizes—some are verbal and some lead by example.”
Seeing Mack finally have the opportunity to play a bigger role on the team is also important for Turner.
“Mack didn’t play a whole lot of minutes last year because she played behind Evelyn,” Turner said. “She has an opportunity to go out and prove people wrong about what they think about her.”
Turner definitely knows the team has more depth than last year, but for the Racers to outperform themselves from last season, she also knows that defense will have to be a main focal point. She wants to limit the amount of opportunities they give other teams.
“We call them ‘gifts,’” Turner said. “We have to limit the amount of gifts we give other teams each game. I think shooting the basketball well is gonna be a must. Being able to team-rebound because of our size and the 50/50 balls, just the little things.”
While losing two great players, this young Murray State team has gained a lot more in terms of personal and physical growth. An experienced point guard, key players back from injuries and immense depth will help the Racers try to reach new heights.