Murray State vs. UAB preview
WBB: The Racers will try to stay perfect at the CFSB Center this season
Murray State will look to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss to Illinois when they return home to face UAB. Here’s what you need to know:
Murray State (2-2 overall) vs. UAB (2-2 overall) — 2:00pm at the CFSB Center
Bart Torvik national rankings: Murray State #93; UAB #203
Series history: 5th meeting (UAB leads series 4-0, with the last matchup coming in 1995)
You can watch the game on ESPN+
Jeremy Rose will have the radio call on WNBS 1340 AM and GoRacers.com, with the pregame showing starting at 1:30pm
Murray State Scouting Report
The Racers are back home today for the last time until December 15th as they host the Blazers of UAB. Murray State has alternated wins and losses in their first four games, so Racer fans are hoping that trend continues today at The Bank.
The story of the season for the Racers continues to be the struggles shooting the ball. It will only take one game to erase the narrative, but that game hasn’t happened yet. As a team, Murray State is making just 23.3% from beyond the arc this season. Individually, the best shooters on the team are all scuffling. Halli Poock (21.7%), Keslyn Secrist (23.5%), Haven Ford (11.8%) and Briley Pena (20.0%) are all still waiting for their breakout game from three-point range.
Despite the shooting struggles, Murray State is still scoring 74.7 points per game. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks is averaging 17.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game — one of eight players in the country to be averaging at least those numbers this year.
After today’s game, the Racers will play their next four away from home. After playing George Mason and Boston College in Daytona Beach, Murray State will play road games at Morehead State and Austin Peay.
UAB Scouting Report
The Blazers come into today’s game 2-2 overall on the season. The Blazers are on a two-game winning streak after beating Alabama A&M and Chattanooga. It’s been a nice bounce-back after losing their season-opener, 62-59, to Division II West Alabama.
UAB has three guards who lead the team in scoring: Eleecia Carter (15.5 points per game), Cali Smallwood (14.5 PPG) and Sofia Munoz (12.3 PPG).
Unlike the Racers, the Blazers have been outstanding from three-point range, making 41.9% from deep. UAB is also deadly at the free throw line, knocking down 89.7% from the charity stripe — which leads the country this season.
I’ll have a ‘Ride Home’ podcast posted later tonight.