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MOREHEAD, Ky. – Looking to avenge its 69-62 loss earlier in the season to its in-state rival, Morehead State women's basketball hosts Murray State Thursday at Johnson Arena.

The Eagles look to build upon the team's momentous shooting performance from their prior meeting with the Racers. In the teams' prior meeting, redshirt senior Tyler Moore authored a career-best shooting performance with sophomore Ariel Kirkwood adding a career-night as well.

Moore ended Morehead State's first meeting with Murray State with a career-high eight three-point field goal makes and a season-high 24 points in her first start in an Eagle uniform. Her eight made treys were the most for an Eagle since 2017 and came just shy of tying the program record for made threes (nine [2x] by Chynna Bozeman).

Four of Moore's threes came with an assist from Kirkwood, who tallied a career-best seven assists in the game. Her seven helpers sparked a streak that has seen Kirkwood tally four or more assists in five of the past seven games and pass out 33 total assists—the third-most by an Ohio Valley Conference player since Jan. 11.

Redshirt sophomore Gabby Crawford nearly recorded a double-double in Morehead State's previous meeting with the Racers, posting 14 points and nine rebounds. Since the earlier meeting, she's added three double-doubles to her season total and now owns six for the year, a total that ranks her second in the OVC.

Morehead State and Murray State tips at 4 p.m. ET Thursday 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 (5-10; 4-7 OVC) | Murray State (8-9; 5-7 OVC)
Series: Morehead State leads 46-42
Last Five Meetings: Jan. 11, 2021 (MUR 69, MOR 62) | Feb. 15, 2020 (MUR 83, MOR 75) | Feb. 28, 2019 (MOR 80, MUR 71) | Jan. 3, 2019 (MOR 83, MUR 61) | Jan. 25, 2018 (MOR 82, MUR 80)

NOTABLE
Pouring in 10 points and grabbing 12 boards versus Tennessee Tech last Saturday, redshirt sophomore Gabby Crawford recorded her team-leading sixth double-double of the year, a total that ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference. For the season, she ranks 18^th in the OVC in scoring at 11.0 points per game and third in rebounding at 8.9 rebounds per game.

Picking up six assists against Tennessee Tech, sophomore Ariel Kirkwood has dished out four or more assists in six games this season, including five of the last seven contests. Her 48 total assists rank eighth in the OVC.

Since assuming ball-handling duties during Morehead State's January 11 contest at Murray State, Kirkwood has dished out 33 assists, the third-best total in the OVC during the time span. She's also one of just three players to record 30 or more assists since January 11.

Forcing 24 turnovers against Tennessee Tech, Morehead State's total marked a season-high for turnovers forced against an OVC opponent, tying the team's total from its first meeting versus SIUE. The game also marked the fourth game this season where the Eagles have forced 20 or more turnovers.

Morehead State enters the weekend ranks third in the NCAA with 111 total blocks this season while ranking second in blocked shots per game at 7.4 blocks per contest. The Eagles are one of six NCAA Division I women's basketball programs with 100 or more blocks this season.

Kirkwood and Crawford both rank highly in the nation for Morehead State in blocked shots and blocked shots per game, ranking ninth and 15^th in blocked shots and 24^th and 45^th, respectively, in blocked shots per game.

Morehead State continues to be the lone team in the OVC to place four players among the top-15 in the conference in total blocked shots, claiming players in the second, third, sixth, and 11^th spots. Kirkwood leads the group ranked second with Crawford right behind in third while redshirt sophomore Lauren Carter and junior Ellie Jo Johnson rank sixth and 11^th, respectively.

Elsewhere defensively, Morehead State continues to be one of the top teams in the OVC and country in three-point field goal defense, ranking third in the conference and 34^th in the nation in the category. The Eagles have held their opponents to just 81-of-313 from behind the arc this year, holding opponents to under 30 percent shooting from three in 12 of 15 games this season.

Morehead State also ranks highly in the OVC and nation in reaching the free throw line, ranking second in the league in both free throw attempts and free throws made, ranking 31^st and 25^th in the NCAA, respectively. The Eagles have shot 307 free throws this season, converting 227 of the 307 attempts.

Morehead State also enters the weekend—joined by Murray State—as one of two teams to average both 20 or more free throw attempts per game and 15 or more free throws made per game. On the year, the Eagles average 20.5 free throw attempts per game and 15.1 free throw makes per game.

Crawford leads Morehead State in both free throw attempts and free throws made, ranking third and fourth in the OVC, respectively, and 50^th and 49^th in the NCAA, respectively. On the year, she's gone to the line 78 times, converting 61 of her attempts.

Johnson ranks fourth in the OVC in free throw percentage, shooting 82.4 percent (56-of-68) from the charity stripe. She is also one of only seven players in the conference to shoot 80 percent or better from the free throw line.

Crawford and Johnson also rank amongst the top players in the OVC in average attempts and makes from the free throw line per game, ranking third and sixth in both categories, respectively. Crawford averages 5.2 attempts and 4.1 makes per game while Johnson averages 4.5 attempts and 3.7 makes per contest.

Morehead State is also one of two teams in the OVC to have a pair of players corral seven or more rebounds per contest this season. Crawford ranks third in the conference in rebounding, averaging 8.9 boards per game while Kirkwood ranks eighth in the league at 7.5 rebounds per contest.