Jakob Milani
Staff Writer
jmilani@murraystate.edu
After her best season as the head coach at Murray State, head coach Rechelle Turner has received an extension to remain coach of the Murray State women’s basketball team through the end of the 2022-23 season.
Regent Eric Criegler brought up the decision to extend Turner’s contract during Murray State’s Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 26, complementing the work she’s done with her staff to turn the program around.
“She’s been improving the team throughout her tenure,” Criegler said. “And I just mentioned she seems to have them revved up going into the tournament, so the decision was made to extend her contract at the same compensation level.”
Athletic Director Kevin Saal followed, stating that Turner continues to make the program stronger year in and year out on and off the floor.
“In her four seasons here with us, the team has maintained a 3.1 GPA ,” Saal said. “They’re doing a really good job academically… You’ll recall in an update last year that the 18-19 team was picked 12th by the coaches and finished 6th. She has consistently overachieved.”
The Racers are 14-10 this season with just one game remaining on their regular season schedule, and currently sit seventh in the OVC with an 11-8 record in the conference, clinching a spot in the OVC tournament.
Turner is 52-62 as head coach of the Racers, helping Murray State make the OVC tournament in four straight seasons since her arrival in 2017.
Junior guard Macey Turley has led the way for the Racers this season, averaging 17.2 points per game, 3.4 assists per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. Turley broke the Murray State women’s basketball record for consecutive free throws with 45. She also became the 13th player in Murray State women’s basketball history to score 1000 points in a career.
Freshman forward Katelyn Young has made her presence known in the OVC, averaging 14.2 points per game and 9.4 rebounds per game, with seven double-doubles on the season. Young has won OVC Freshman of the Week seven times this season and OVC Player of the Week once.
Turner is 52-62 as head coach of the Racers, helping Murray State make the OVC tournament in four straight seasons since her arrival in 2017.