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MOREHEAD, Ky. – While it may seem like déjà vu, it is indeed reality as Morehead State women's basketball and SIUE are set to run things back for a second consecutive matchup following Saturday's 63-53 victory in Edwardsville, Ill.

Tuesday's matchup marks the sixth occurrence and second of the 2020-21 season, that Morehead State has played consecutive games against the same team. The Eagles faced Eastern Kentucky in consecutive games on Dec. 11 and 14, 2020 while also having consecutive meetings with Austin Peay in 2005-06, Tennessee Tech in 1993-19, East Tennessee State in 1977-78, and Kentucky in 1971-72.

Morehead State bested SIUE Saturday behind four players who reached double-figures as sophomore Ariel Kirkwood (20), redshirt sophomore Gabby Crawford (12), redshirt sophomore Lauren Carter (10), and junior Ellie Jo Johnson (10) each tallied 10-plus points. Kirkwood and Crawford each recorded a double-double, adding 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

The Eagles also clamped down the defense, holding SIUE to 29.8 percent shooting from the field, the lowest such mark for an Eagle opponent this season. Morehead State also rejected 10 Cougar shots Saturday—the team's fifth game of 10 or more blocks—with Crawford leading the way, tallying a career-high six blocks.

Morehead State enters Tuesday's game as the top shot-blocking team in the OVC and one of the tops in the country, leading the NCAA in blocks per game, averaging 7.5 rejections per contest, while ranking third in total blocks with 83.

The Eagles victory against SIUE was also decided by the team's free-throw shooting as the team posted an 82.1 percent shooting percentage from the charity stripe. Overall, Morehead State shot 23-of28 from the free throw line, including an impressive 18-of-20 from the line during the fourth quarter.

Morehead State and SIUE's second meeting tips off at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday at Johnson Arena. The game airs on ESPN+ and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Eagle Sports Network (MSUEagles.com or WIVY-96.3 FM).

INSIDE THE SERIES
Records: Morehead State (3-8; 2-5 OVC) | SIUE (4-7; 1-5 OVC)
Series: Morehead State leads 10-6
Last Five Meetings: Jan. 16, 2021 (MOR 63, SIUE 53) | Feb. 6, 2020 (MOR 63, SIUE 55) | Jan. 9, 2020 (MOR 75, SIUE 69) | Jan. 31, 2019 (MOR 73, SIUE 67) | Jan. 6, 2018 (SIUE 66, MOR 51)

NOTABLE
Facing SIUE for the second time in as many games Tuesday, the occasion marks the sixth time in Morehead State women's basketball history the Eagles have played the same opponent in back-to-back games—the second time it has occurred this season. Including the EKU series earlier this season, the phenomenon has also occurred versus Austin Peay (2005-06), Tennessee Tech (1993-94), East Tennessee State (1977-78), and Kentucky (1971-72).

Shooting 23-of-28 (82.1 percent) from the charity stripe Saturday versus SIUE, Morehead State has shot 80 percent or better from the free throw line in consecutive games. This season, the Eagles have exceeded a free throw percentage of 80 percent in six of 11 games.

Morehead State ranks third in the OVC in both free throw attempts and free throws made, ranking 62nd and 39th in the NCAA, respectively. Converting 166-of-225 free throws this season, the team's free throw percentage of 73.8 percent ranks fourth in the conference.

The Eagles also rank towards the top of the league in average trips and makes at the charity stripe this season. Morehead State ranks second in the conference with an average of 20.5 free throw attempts per game and 15.1 free throws made per game, joining Murray State as the only teams in the league to average at least 20 attempts and 15 makes per game.

Gabby Crawford leads Morehead State in free throw attempts and free throws made, making 49 free throws in 63 attempts at the charity stripe. She ranks second in the OVC in free throw attempts and fourth in free throws made, ranking third in the conference in average attempts (5.7) and makes (4.5) per game.

Converting at an 82.2 percent clip from the free throw line, Ellie Jo Johnson ranks fourth in the OVC in free throw percentage, hitting 37-of-45 attempts this season. She's one of eight players in the conference to shoot 80 percent or better from the free throw line.

Morehead State continues to be the top shot-blocking team in the Ohio Valley Conference, leading the NCAA in blocks per game, averaging 7.5 blocks per contest. The Eagles also rank third in the nation with 83 total blocks. With 10 blocks Saturday against SIUE, Morehead State has out-blocked its opponent in 10 of 11 games while picking up 10 or more blocks for the fifth time this year.

Ariel Kirkwood leads Morehead State in shot-blocking, ranking fifth in the NCAA in blocked shots and seventh in the country in blocked shots per game. Overall, she's turned away 36 shots in 11 games, an average of 3.27 per game.

Morehead State also enters the league holding the second, third, and fourth-ranked players in the OVC in total blocks. Kirkwood ranks second, Crawford third, and Lauren Carter fourth while Johnson ranks 15th to make Morehead State the only OVC team to place four players among the league's top-15 in the category.

With each Crawford and Kirkwood notching a double-double in Saturday's game, each player now has recorded four double-doubles apiece this season. Both rank second in the OVC with four double-doubles and rank 43rd in the NCAA. Saturday's game also marked the second time this season the Eagles have had two players record a double-double in the same game.

With three assists Saturday versus SIUE, Ariel Kirkwood has dished out 16 assists in the last three games, including a career-best seven assists against Murray State. She becomes the first Eagle since Crystal Simmons-Cozar in 2018-19 to dish out 15 or more assists in three straight games.

Morehead State also continues to be one of the top teams in the OVC at defending the three-point line, ranking 25th in the NCAA by limiting opponents to a 24.7 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. The Eagles have held their opponents to 59-of-239 from three this season.

Tuesday's game marks another milestone for Morehead State head coach Greg Todd, being his 200th career game as Morehead State's head coach. He becomes the fourth head coach in program history to coach 200 or more games at MSU, joining Mickey Wells (247; 1975-76 to 1983-84), Loretta Marlow (225; 1984-85 to 1991-92), and Laura Litter (220; 1997-98 to 2004-05).

With Morehead State's victory versus Tennessee Tech on Jan. 7, Todd became the third coach in program history to reach 100 career victories at Morehead State. He joined Wells (156) and Marlow (110) as the only coaches at MSU to win 100 or more games as the Eagle head coach.

Todd also leads all Morehead State women's basketball coaches in career Ohio Valley Conference victories, holding 56 career victories in league play.