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MOREHEAD, Ky. – Continuing its three-game road trip in the Music City, Morehead State women's basketball looks to extend its longest current winning streak over an Ohio Valley Conference foe.

Morehead State (5-12; 4-9 OVC) opens the conference's Nashville swing at Tennessee State (0-16; 0-14) seeking an extension of a seven-game winning streak over the Lady Tigers, a streak that dates back to the 2017 season.

The Eagles return to the court behind the momentum of a season-best shooting night, posting a season-high 43.1 shooting percentage from the floor while connecting on the team's second-highest free throw percentage (88.2) of the season.

Three players scored in double-figures in the opener of the road swing against Jacksonville State led by sophomore Ariel Kirkwood who poured in a season-high-tying 20 points. She was joined in double-digits by redshirt sophomores Lauren Carter and Gabby Crawford who added 11 and 16 points, respectively, with Crawford's 16 nearing a career-high.

Morehead State also enters the weekend ranking second in the NCAA in blocked shots per game, averaging 7.1 blocks per contest while also ranking fourth in the nation in total blocks, rejecting 121 shots this season. The Eagles are one of three Division I programs to rank in the top-five in the country in both categories, being joined by Oklahoma State and South Carolina.

Morehead State and Tennessee State tip-off from the Gentry Center in Nashville Thursday at 6 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN+ and the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety Eagle Sports Network (MSUEagles.com and WIVY-96.3 FM).

INSIDE THE SERIES
Records: Morehead State (5-12; 4-9 OVC) | Tennessee State (0-16; 0-14 OVC)
Series: Morehead State leads 37-27
Last Five Meetings: Feb. 22, 2020 (MOR 69, TSU 60) | Jan. 16, 2020 (MOR 84, TSU 47) | Feb. 7, 2019 (MOR 71, TSU 55) | Jan. 12, 2019 (MOR 85, TSU 62) | Feb. 15, 2018 (MOR 71, TSU 69)

NOTABLE
After scoring 20 points Tuesday at Jacksonville State, Ariel Kirkwood has now recorded four 20-point games in her career. She's tied with Jazzmyn Elston and Tyler Moore for the most career 20-point games amongst current Eagles.

Shooting 22-of-51 from the field against Jacksonville State Tuesday, Morehead State registered its best shooting percentage of the season, connecting at a 43.1 clip. The game also marked the second time this year the Eagles have exceeded a shooting percentage of 40 percent or greater.

Morehead State didn't just have shooting success from the floor Tuesday as the team also posted its second-highest free throw percentage of the season, firing 15-of-17 from the charity stripe. The 88.2 free throw percentage against Jacksonville State was the ninth time the Eagles have shot 80 percent or better from the line.

Earning 17 trips to the line against Jacksonville State, Morehead State has earned 15 or more trips to the charity stripe in 15 or 17 games this season. Overall, Morehead State has made 331 trips to the free throw line, converting 247, both totals that rank second in the Ohio Valley Conference while ranking 42nd and 29th in the NCAA, respectively.

In addition to ranking second in the OVC in free throw attempts and free throws made, the Eagles also rank second in the league in average free throw attempts and free throws made, averaging 14.5 makes in 19.5 attempts per game this season.

Converting at a 74.6 percent clip from the free throw line this season, Morehead State ranks fifth in the OVC and 50th in the NCAA in free throw percentage.

After earning and making all four of her free throw attempts versus Jacksonville State, Gabby Crawford continues to rank third in the OVC in both average free throws made and average free throw attempts. She averages 4.1 makes in 5.1 average attempts at the charity stripe this season.

Morehead State enters the weekend as one of eight NCAA Division I women's programs with 100 or more blocks this season, being one of just four with 120-plus blocks. The Eagles' 121 blocks in 17 games rank fourth in the NCAA while the team's 7.1 blocks per game rank second in the country.

The Eagles are also one of 16 NCAA Division I programs (men's or women's basketball) with 100 or more blocks this season, being one of just five with 120 or more blocks.
Morehead State is also one of three teams in the NCAA to rank top-five in the nation in both total blocks and blocks per set, joining the Big 12's Oklahoma State and the Southeastern Conference's South Carolina.

Individually, a pair of Eagles, Kirkwood and Crawford, each rank top-30 in the NCAA in total blocks, ranking 12th and 28th, respectively. Kirkwood ranks second in the OVC with 44 blocks with Crawford ranking third with 33 blocks.

Morehead State's duo of Kirkwood (2.59 blocks per game) and Crawford (1.94) also rank top-50 in the NCAA in blocks per game, ranking 20th and 48th, respectively.

In addition to having the second and third-ranked player in the OVC in blocked shots, Morehead State also adds a pair of players in the conference's top-10 as Lauren Carter (17) and Ellie Jo Johnson (14) rank sixth and seventh, respectively. These rankings make Morehead State the only team in the league to place three or more players in the top-10.

Since assuming the primary ball-handling duties on Jan. 11, Ariel Kirkwood has passed out 35 assists of her 49 helpers on the season. She ranks 10th in the OVC in assists.

Kirkwood has also been quite active on the defensive end, leading the Eagles with three steals in each of the past two games. Overall, she ranks fourth in the OVC in total steals (33) and steals per game (1.94).

Morehead State enters the weekend as one of two teams in the OVC with two players ranking in the top-10 in the conference in rebounding. Crawford leads Morehead State and ranks second in the OVC, grabbing 8.8 boards per game while Kirkwood ranks sixth with 7.8 rebounds per game.