CLARKSVILLE – One of the best rivalries in college basketball is set to be renewed when Austin Peay State University women's basketball travels to Murray State to kick off Ohio Valley Conference play in a 2 p.m., Saturday battle at the CFSB Center.

The top-two offenses in the OVC, Austin Peay is averaging 74 points per game and Murray State is averaging a league-best 80.6 points per game this season. However, the two squads enter Saturday's contest with contrasting streaks, as the Governors have dropped back-to-back games and the Racers have won two in-a-row.

After Saturday's OVC opener against Murray State, the Govs will have 11 days off for the holidays, before they take the court at Tennessee State for a 5 p.m., Dec. 30 showdown with the Lady Tigers. Austin Peay will then play its OVC home opener, when the Governors host Eastern Kentucky for a 1 p.m., Jan. 2 game at the Winfield Dunn Center.

Scouting the Racers

After an eighth-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference regular season in 2019-20; the OVC's coaches and SIDs tabbed Murray State to finish eighth in the 2020-21 Preseason Poll, and the league's media picked the Racers to finish sixth in the preseason poll. In her fourth season at the helm, head coach Rechelle Turner returns eight letterwinners and all five starters from a team that went 14-16 overall and 7-11 in OVC play last season.

Junior guards Macey Turley and Alexis Burpo were named to the Preseason All-OVC Team, after Turley was a First-Team and Burpo was a Second-Team All-OVC selection last season. Turley and Burpo are averaging 10.6 and 5.5 points per game, respectively, this season.

Freshman forward Katelyn Young has been named the OVC Freshman of the Week in each of the first three weeks of this season. Young is averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, both of which lead Murray State. Earlier this season, Young put together a 27-point, 12-rebound  double-double performance against Indiana State, Dec. 5.

Laci Hawthorne, a member of the 2019-20 OVC All-Newcomer Team, is averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this season. Hannah McKay and Manna Mensah are averaging 11.3 and 10 points per game, respectively, as five Racers are scoring in double-figures this season.

Through five games this season, Murray State leads the OVC in scoring offense (80.6 ppg), rebounding (41.8 rpg), and offensive rebounding (14.4 orpg).

Series History

This is the 92nd meeting in a series that dates back to 1977; Austin Peay leads the all-time series, 46-45.

In last year's regular-season finale at the CFSB Center, Austin Peay routed Murray State, 88-59, on Feb. 29, 2020. The Governors 29-point victory was the biggest margin of victory by a visiting team in the 43-year history of the Austin Peay-Murray State women's basketball series.

Austin Peay shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 42.4 percent from downtown, while knocking down 14 three-pointers. Ella Sawyer led the Governors offense, connecting on a career-high 6 triples and pouring in a career-high 26 points.

Nieja Crawford, Austin Peay's current Graduate Assistant, scored 12 points, went 2-2 from three-point range, and grabbed 7 rebounds in her final game against Murray State. Brandi Ferby led the Govs in helpers, dishing out five assists in the contest; while Tahanee Bennell pulled down a career-high six rebounds.

For Murray State, Lex Mayes led the way with 18 points, while G'Torria Swinton chipped in 11 points and 9 rebounds. Laci Hawthorne pulled down 16 rebounds and scored 9 points for Murray State in the loss.

Notably…

• Austin Peay is 20-23 all-time in Ohio Valley Conference openers, however, the Govs are 11-9 all-time in OVC openers played on the road.
• The Govs open the conference season on the road for the first time since the 2014-15 season, when they beat Eastern Kentucky, 81-71, on Jan. 3, 2015 in Richmond, Kentucky.
• Austin Peay is 4-3 all-time against Murray State in OVC openers. The last time the two met to kick-off the conference slate was on Jan. 11, 2003, when the Govs beat the Racers, 62-61, in the CFSB Center.
• The Governors are on a two-game winning streak in OVC openers against Murray State and are 2-1 all-time in conference openers played against the Racers in Murray, Kentucky.
• The Governors have more all-time wins and games played against the Racers than any other opponent in program history.
• In last year's regular-season finale, the Govs beat Murray State, 88-59, in the CFSB Center – the 29-point win was the biggest margin of victory by a visiting team in the 43-year series history.
• The Govs and Racers are averaging 74 and 80.6 points per game, respectively, which are the top-two scoring offenses in the Ohio Valley Conference this season.
• Averaging 9.8 made three-point field goals per game this season, the Governors rank 15th in the NCAA and lead the OVC.
• Five different Governors are averaging double-digit points per game this season, led by Brianah Ferby, who ranks 10th in the OVC in scoring (14.5 ppg).
• With 12 assists and just three turnovers this season, Brandi Ferby ranks 24th in the NCAA and 3rd in the OVC with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.

Govs in the time of COVID

For the 2020-21 season, Austin Peay State University athletics will allow approximately 35 percent capacity in the Dunn Center for home basketball events. There will be no lower bowl seating for fans during the season. The lower level will be limited to players, coaches, and game-day support staff only. Seats will be assigned to create a buffer between groups to ensure social distancing is maintained. Student seating will be located in sections AA-BB for both men's and women's games. Masks or facial coverings are required to enter the Dunn Center. They must remain in place at all times unless eating or drinking.

Govs Online

Check back at LetsGoPeay.com and on Austin Peay's Official Athletics Facebook page often for up-to-date news about all Governor athletics, as well as the Governor women's basketball Twitter page (@AustinPeayWBB). Live stats will be available during the game at PeayStats.com, and all home games and Ohio Valley Conference games can be viewed on the ESPN+ app. ESPN Clarksville (104.1 FM/540 AM) will carry the radio broadcast locally and online.