Redhawks seek a share of OVC lead vs. Racers

~ Southeast and Murray State enter tonight's showdown with seven-game winning streaks.

They are by far the two hottest women's basketball teams in the Ohio Valley Conference.

One squad features the top scorer in the league and the other side boasts the nation's No. 1 rebounder.

It's probably only fitting, then, that Southeast Missouri State and Murray State square off today in a first-place OVC showdown, with the tipoff set for 5:15 p.m. in Murray, Ky.

Murray State (9-3, 6-0) has won seven straight games and leads the conference.

Southeast (10-4, 5-1) also is riding a seven-game winning streak. The Redhawks stand second in the 11-team OVC, and a win will tie them with the Racers for first place.

"It's exciting," Southeast sophomore point guard Tarina Nixon said. "It's a big game, and we're looking forward to it."

While the defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Redhawks -- who returned just one starter from that club -- have squeezed out several close conference wins, the Racers have been totally dominant so far.

Three of Southeast's OVC victories have been by a total of 13 points, including one in overtime and one on a shot in the closing seconds. And the Redhawks' only league loss was by one point.

Murray State, on the other hand, has won all of its OVC games by at least 14 points.

The Racers' average margin of victory in league play is an astounding 24.2 points. Southeast is second in that category -- with an average victory margin of seven points.

"I know they have a really good team," Nixon said.

It's not surprising that Murray State is off to its best OVC start ever, because the Racers have been improving considerably under fourth-year coach Joi Felton.

Murray State has not posted an overall winning record since the 1989-90 season, but the Racers have compiled two of their better OVC marks since the 1980s under Felton.

Last seaso,n the Racers tied for sixth in the conference at 9-11 -- they were 11-17 overall -- but all five starters were underclassmen and Murray State showed enough progress to be picked third in this year's preseason poll.

The Racers have exceeded those expectations so far. They are averaging 86.3 points in OVC play and scored 100 during a 41-point win over Jacksonville State.

Murray State leads the conference in many statistical categories during OVC play, including scoring, victory margin, field-goal percentage (.555) and 3-point field-goal percentage (.442).

The Racers are led by 6-foot senior forward Joi Scott, the OVC's preseason player of the year. She is averaging a league-best 20.6 points and 8.7 rebounds (third in the conference) while shooting 60.4 percent from the field.

In OVC play, Scott has been off the charts, averaging 24.5 points and shooting 79 percent.

But Scott isn't the Racers' only weapon.

Amber Guffey, a 5-8 sophomore guard, is averaging 14.7 points and shooting 48.4 percent from 3-point range (31 of 64).

Ashley N. Hayes, a 5-10 sophomore guard/forward, is averaging 13 points.

Paige Guffey, a 5-8 sophomore guard -- and Amber's twin sister -- is also hitting 48.4 percent of her 3-pointers (15 of 31).

In OVC games, Paige Guffey is shooting 55.6 percent from beyond the arc, while Amber Guffey is at 54.1 percent.

Southeast will counter with the OVC's top field-goal percentage defense. The Redhawks are allowing opponents to shoot just 37.2 percent.

The Redhawks are also by far the league's top rebounding team, boasting a plus-15.8 margin in OVC play, led by Lachelle Lyle's national-leading average of 16.5 rebounds per game.