Conference Play Opens for Women's Basketball in New Year's Eve Clash with SEMO

GAME NOTES | SCHEDULE PAGE (LINKS TO LIVE STATS, AUDIO, & STREAMING)

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The second season is here for the Morehead State women's basketball team, as conference play opens on the final day of 2023 in a New Years Eve clash at Southeast Missouri. In their final non-conference action, the Eagles took down Davis & Elkins on Dec. 18 behind a dominant defensive performance, allowing just 28 points -- the lowest total by an opponent since 2018. 

Tip-off from the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., is set for 2:00 p.m. ET, with live stats available. Fans not in attendance can catch the action live on ESPN+, or tune in to the Eagle Sports Network (96.3 WIVY) where Tom Lewis will be on the call. 

2023-24 SEASON RECORDS & CURRENT STREAK

• Morehead State (5-6, 0-0 OVC) W1
• SEMO (3-9, 0-1 OVC) L1

PREVIOUS MEETING & SERIES HISTORY

• Morehead State is 16-19 all-time vs. Southeast Missouri, including an 8-9 record on the road. 
• SEMO ended the Eagles' season in the OVC Tournament in 2022-23, winning 77-38 in Evansville. 
• The Redhawks have won the last six matchups between the two schools. 

NOTABLE

• Morehead State's Matilda Soderlund posted a new career-high in points, field goals made, and three-point field goals made vs. Davis & Elkins. Soderlund scored 24 points against the Senators, making nine field goals with six of them from beyond the arc. 
• Ball movement has been a key to MSU's early success this season, as the Eagles average 14.5 assists per game. Veronica Charles dished out a career-best 10 assists vs. Davis & Elkins, while Katie Novik had eight. Novik ranks second in the OVC in assists at 4.8 per game. 
• Blessing King has lived up to her name, being a blessing on the boards for Morehead State. King ranks second in the OVC in rebounding at 8.8 per game, and her 4.8 offensive rebounds per game is fifth in all of Division I. 
• Hallie Rhodes has been a quiet contributor for Morehead State this season. Although she doesn't lead MSU in any statistical category, Rhodes ranks third on the team in rebounding (4.3), second in field goal percentage (50.7%), fourth in scoring (9.3), and second in steals and blocks. 
• Veronica Charles has scored in double figures in six of 11 games this season, including three in a row. Charles is the Eagles' leading scorer at 10.9 per game. She also leads the team in steals with two per game, and is the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year.