Women's Hoops ready for battle with JSU on Monday night

Game Notes | Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats
 
MOREHEAD, Ky.—In the second game of a three-game homestead, Morehead State women's basketball is set to take on Jacksonville State on Monday evening at 6 p.m. ET at Johnson Arena.
 
The Eagles (7-13, 1-5 Ohio Valley Conference) are coming off a 96-75 home loss to Austin Peay. Sophomore forward Eriel McKee shot 3-of-6 from three-point territory, accumulating 17 points, and continuing a double-digit scoring streak of 24 games. McKee has started all 20 games this year and is averaging 15.3 points.
 
JSU (7-12, 2-5) sits at ninth in the OVC standings and has lost three straight conference contests. The Gamecocks sit atop the league in scoring defense, only allowing 57.5 points per game. JSU has been the top scoring defensive team for the past two seasons.
 
Junior guard Briana Benson is the top scorer for the Gamecocks, averaging 11.3 points, while only starting six games. During the three-game losing streak, she has averaged 12.3 points per game, but is coming off a five-point performance in the most recent 44-32 loss to Belmont.
 
The contest against JSU will be available online on the OVC Digital Network. It will also broadcast on the Eagle Sports Radio Network with Jason Blanton calling all of the action. The radio network includes WIVY-96.3 FM and several affiliates throughout eastern Kentucky. A live audio stream can be found on MSUEagles.com and the Eagle Empire app.
 
McKEE's DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING STREAK CONTINUES
Sophomore forward Eriel McKee has scored in double digits in every game and has accumulated a team-high four double-doubles. Dating back to her freshman season, she has scored in double digits for 24 straight games, beginning on Feb. 21, 2015 versus EKU. McKee is averaging a team leading 15.3 points per game
 
OVC WEEKLY HONORS FOR CROCKETT
Freshman guard Miranda Crockett has caught the attention of the OVC, as she has been awarded the OVC Freshman of the Week accolade on five different occasions. Crockett leads the team in assists (84) and minutes played (585), is second in rebounding (137) and fourth in points per game (12.5).
 
PERCHED ATOP THE OVC AS A TEAM
The Eagles lead the OVC in 11 separate team stat categories, including assists, blocks, blocked shots per game, defensive rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game, rebounds, rebounds per game, scoring offense, steals, steals per game, and turnovers forced.
 
GET THAT OUT OF HERE
The Eagles rank first in the nation with 134 blocks and third in blocked shots per game with 6.7. Junior forward Shay Steele is 35th in the nation and first in the OVC with 41 blocks. MSU tied a school record and an OVC record with 16 blocks in the win over Mount St. Joseph on Nov. 23.
 
RUN-AND-GUN
MSU's scoring has stayed at a steady pace, averaging 82.6 points per game, ranking sixth in the nation and first in the OVC in scoring offense.  In four games, MSU has reached the century scoring mark and are 3-1 when they do so.
 
WORKING FOR WINDEX
The Eagles rank second in the country with 942 rebounds and fourth in rebounds per game with 47.1. MSU is also averaging 18 offensive rebounds per game, making them the seventh best offensive rebounding team in the nation.
 
SECOND-CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES
With a high rebounding average, 37 percent of the Eagles' rebounds have led to second-chance opportunities. As a result, MSU scores an average of 17.1 points per game as second-chance points.
 
PAINT THE INSIDE BLUE AND GOLD
On average, the Eagles are scoring 37.3 points per game in the paint, and their opponents are averaging 34.8 points per game.
 
GET EVERYONE INVOLVED
The MSU bench has been productive through the year, averaging 19.6 points per game. In 20 contests, the leading scorer has come from the bench twice.
 
TAKE THE BALL AWAY
MSU ranks seventh nationally with 219 steals and is 17th in steals per game with 11.0. Sophomore forward Eriel McKee is fifth in the nation with 59 steals and ranks 17th with 2.9 steals per game.
 
TEAMMATES FINDING TEAMMATES
As a team MSU has dished out 324 assists, and they rank 17th in the country. The Eagles have accumulated 10 or more assists in 18-of-20 games and have surpassed 20 team assists in four games.
 
PUT THE OPPONENTS ON THEIR HEELS
With 20.9 forced turnovers per game, the Eagles rank 16th in the nation. In 11 contests, the Eagles have forced 20 or more turnovers.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. JACKSONVILLE STATE
Jacksonville State made 4-of-5 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line in overtime to register an 83-78 win over MSU on March 1, 2015. Morehead State connected on 44 percent (31-of-71) from the field, 32 percent (6-of-19) from long distance and 77 percent from the free throw line. The Eagles posted advantages of 46-41 in rebounds, 18-16 in assists and 9-2 in blocked shots. JSU junior guard Destany McLin recorded a game-high 23 points on 10-of-18 from the field. Senior guard Almesha Jones turned in her sixth double-double this season, with 17 points and 12 assists, while Eriel McKee added her eighth, with 12 points and 12 rebounds.