Murray State vs. Southern Illinois preview
WBB: It's the final home game for four Racer seniors
Murray State will play their final home game of the regular season as they host Southern Illinois. Here’s what you need to know:
Southern Illinois (4-22 overall, 2-15 Missouri Valley Conference) at Murray State (19-7 overall, 13-4 MVC) — 2:00pm at the CFSB Center
NCAA NET Rankings: Murray State #57; Southern Illinois #340
Series history: 49th meeting (Southern Illinois leads 38-10)
You can stream the game on ESPN+
Jeremy Rose will have the radio call on WBZB, with the pregame show starting at 1:30pm.
Murray State Scouting Report
It is Senior Day for the Racer program as Ava Learn, Jenna Walker, Trinity White and Katelyn Young will be honored for their contributions to the Murray State program before the game.
The Racers come into this one having won four games in a row, highlighted by Thursday’s 78-67 win over Missouri State. In their win over the Lady Bears, Young scored 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as she became the school’s all-time leading rebounder.
In the last five games, Halli Poock is averaging 18.6 points per game, while shooting 45.7% (16-for-35) from three-point range. Prior to this five-game heater, Poock was shooting just 30.2% from beyond the arc this season. She shot 38.5% from deep last season at Bradley, so her numbers are finally starting to get back to where she expects this season.
Coming off their 23-for-23 performance from the free throw line against Missouri State, the Racers are now #2 in the country in free throw percentage this season, shooting 80.0% as a team this season. In records dating back to 2002-23, that was the most free throws the Racers have made in a game without a miss over that timeframe.
Murray State enters the day with the #3 scoring offense in the country, as they’re scoring 86.9 points per game. The Racers trail only Florida State (89.1 PPG) and Tennessee (88.6 PPG) this year.
Southern Illinois Scouting Report
The Salukis have struggled this season, as they’ve lost six in a row and 11 of their last 12 games. With three games to play, SIU will be either the 10, 11, or 12 seed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
SIU is led by several categories Gift Uchenna. The 6’3 junior forward leads the team in scoring (14.6 PPG) and rebounding (12.8 RPG). Her 12.8 rebounds per game are second in the country this season, and her 17 double-doubles rank 4th nationally.
Uchenna is the only Saluki averaging double-figures this year, but sophomore guard Kayla Cooper is next best with 9.6 points per game.
Offensively, the Salukis should struggle to keep up with the Racers. Out of 353 Division I teams, SIU is ranked #322 in scoring offense (57.0 PPG), #350 in shooting percentage (34.5%), and #316 in three-point percentage (26.5%).
The best thing they do, which isn’t surprising considering what Uchenna has accomplished this season, is crash the offensive glass. Southern Illinois is #77 nationally averaging 12.8 offensive rebounds per game this year.
I’ll have a ‘Ride Home’ podcast posted later tonight.
Wouldn’t miss senior day for these ladies! GO RACERS!