UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Morehead State at Eastern Illinois* - 5:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
UT Martin at Jacksonville State* - 5:15 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri* - 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Murray State at Tennessee Tech* - 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13|
Oakland City at SIU Edwardsville - 2:00 p.m.
Murray State at Jacksonville State* - 2:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Eastern Kentucky at Eastern Illinois* - 4:00 p.m. (OVCSports.TV; WEIU-TV)
Austin Peay at Tennessee State* - 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
Morehead State at Southeast Missouri* - 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
UT Martin at Tennessee Tech* - 5:30 p.m. (OVCSports.TV)
* - OVC Contest
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
THIS WEEK'S OVC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PLAYER
LaBrica Ward, F • Fr., 5'9 • Union City, Tenn. • UT Martin
Ward averaged 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in UT Martin's two wins last week, helping the Skyhawks win consecutive games for the first time since 2006-07. Against Tennessee State, Ward broke her career scoring mark with 25 points. She also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to record her first collegiate double-double. Ward went 6-for-11 from the field on the day with a career-best three three-pointers while also going 10-for-13 at the charity stripe. In the game against Austin Peay, Ward netted 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field while also going a perfect 2-for-2 from three point range and 4-for-4 at the line. She also dished out a game-high six assists against the Lady Govs while pulling down five rebounds.
Others Nominated: Whitney Hanely, Austin Peay; Maggie Kloak, Eastern Illinois, Ashley Martin, Morehead State; Mallory Luckett, Murray State; Meredith Stafford, Tennessee State
NEWCOMER
Alecia Weatherly, F • Jr., 5'11 • Lobelville, Tenn. • UT Martin
Weatherly averaged 23.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in UT Martin's two games last week. In the win over Austin Peay, Weatherly scored a career- high 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting. She also went 3-for-5 from the three-point range and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Weathelry also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and recorded a block. She followed that up with a 21-point effort versus Tennessee State. She shot 6-for-12 from the field and was again perfect at the free throw line (7-for-7).
Others Nominated: Alison West Mason, Tennessee Tech
FRESHMAN
LaBrica Ward, F • Fr., 5'9 • Union City, Tenn. • UT Martin
Ward averaged 21.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in UT Martin's two wins last week, helping the Skyhawks win consecutive games for the first time since 2006-07. Against Tennessee State, Ward broke her career scoring mark with 25 points. She also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to record her first collegiate double-double. Ward went 6-for-11 from the field on the day with a career-best three three-pointers while also going 10-for-13 at the charity stripe. In the game against Austin Peay, Ward netted 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field while also going a perfect 2-for-2 from three point range and 4-for-4 at the line. She also dished out a game-high six assists against the Lady Govs while pulling down five rebounds.
Others Nominated: Meghan Bussabarger, Austin Peay; Ta'Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois; Shakeyia Colyer, Eastern Kentucky; Ashar Harris, Morehead State; Tiara Hopper, Tennessee Tech
TEAM SNAPSHOTS
AUSTIN PEAY LADY GOVS (9-15, 8-5): Austin Peay fell at UT Martin (79-70) before defeating Murray State (76-72) last week. Sophomore Whitney Hanley scored 13 points at UT Martin and followed that up with a 20-point outing at Murray State. Junior Ashley Herring's 20-point performance at Murray State pushed her past the 1,000-career point mark. She becomes the 13th Lady Govs player to surpass 1,000 career points. Senior Nicole Jamen recorded her season's eighth double-double (17 pts./10 reb.) at UT Martin. It was her fifth double-double in 11 games. Sophomore Jasmine Rayner posted her sixth double-double versus the Racers with 14 points and a career-high tying 17 rebounds. Freshman Meghan Bussabarger came off the bench to hit a three-pointer to put APSU ahead for good at Murray State. After scoring just 19 points in the first half at UT Martin, the Lady Govs responded with a 51-point second half. Austin Peay will travel to Tennessee State on Saturday.
EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS (16-8, 11-1): Eastern Illinois defeated SIU Edwardsville (74-63) and Southeast Missouri (71-41) to run its winning streak to 11 games which marks a new program record. The Panthers won at Southeast Missouri for the first time since 2001 and ending a nine-game losing streak at the Show Me Center. Having swept its four-game road stretch, EIU has posted six of its 11 consecutive victories on the road. Four Panthers scored in double-figures in both wins. Senior Maggie Kloak scored a season-high 21 points at SIUE and was one of three EIU players to score 12 points at Southeast Missouri. Freshman Ta'Kenya Nixon posted her team-leading third double-double of the season at SIUE with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Sydney Mitchell scored in double-figures in both games off the bench with 11 points at SIU and a career-high 12 points at Southeast Missouri. With one more victory, EIU can clinch a home game in the opening round of the OVC Tournament for the third straight season. The Panthers will host Morehead State on Thursday and Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
EASTERN KENTUCKY LADY COLONELS (10-13, 6-7): Eastern Kentucky snapped a six-game conference losing streak with a 61-60 win over Tennessee Tech before falling in overtime to Jacksonville State (49-46). Against TTU, freshman Shakeyia Colyer connected on a driving lay-up with 18 seconds left that helped secure the victory. Colyer led the team with a career-best 17 points while freshman Alex Jones added 15 points and five boards against the Golden Eagles. Eastern Kentucky held Jacksonville State for 11 minutes in the first half and led by 11 with seven minutes remaining in the game despite losing in overtime. Colyer finished with career-highs of 18 points and nine rebounds while Jones grabbed 14 boards and scored nine points. Eastern Kentucky will travel to Southeast Missouri on Thursday and Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS (7-16, 4-9): Jacksonville State went 1-1 for the week, falling at Morehead State (80-53) and earning its first win ever at McBrayer Arena with a 49-46 overtime win over Eastern Kentucky. Sophomore Brittany Wiley tied a career-high with 23 points and collected 10 rebounds for her third career double-double in the win over EKU. She scored the final four points of regulation that included a game-tying basket with one second left against the Lady Colonels and then scored four of JSU's five points in overtime. Freshman Karisma Boykin scored 14 points in the loss at Morehead State and tied a career-high with 10 rebounds versus Eastern Kentucky. Jacksonville State will host UT Martin on Thursday and Murray State on Saturday.
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES (18-7, 11-2): Morehead State defeated Jacksonville State (80-43) and Tennessee Tech (80-45) last week. The Eagles' current five-game winning streak equals its longest of the year. Dating back to the second half of the TSU game on Jan.28 until the first half of the Tech game, Morehead State scored at least 40 points in five consecutive halves. With two more OVC wins, the Eagles will clinch the best league winning percentage in school history. Morehead State hit a school-record 17 three-pointers against JSU, including 10-of-13 in the first half. Overall, the Eagles have 258 treys this year and need just 10 more to break the OVC single-season record of 267 held by Tennessee Tech. Sophomore Ashley Martin led the team with 15.5 points while freshman Ashar Harris averaged a double-double of 10.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. The OVC's top rebounder pulled down 18 boards against Tennessee Tech. Junior Chynna Bozeman's current scoring total of 469 (18.8 ppg) ranks as the 13th best season in school history. Morehead State travels to Eastern Illinois on Thursday and Southeast Missouri on Saturday.
MURRAY STATE RACERS (10-13, 5-7): Murray State split a pair of games last week, defeating Tennessee State (77-69) and falling to Austin Peay (76-72). Senior Mallory Luckett missed recorded her second triple-double of the season against Tennessee State as she finished the game with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Luckett followed that up with a double-double at Austin Peay, scoring 10 points and dishing out a career-high 11 assists. Freshman Tessa Elkins set career-highs in points (10), rebounds (7), assists (3) and field goals (4) versus Tennessee State. Sophomore Kayla Lowe returned to the starting line-up for the first time since Nov. 15. Sophomore Rachel Isom has now tallied at least 20 points in the last to meetings with the Lady Govs. Murray State will hit the road as it travels to Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS (7-15, 4-8): Southeast Missouri dropped a pair of contests last week, falling to SIU Edwardsville (59-57) and Eastern Illinois (71-41). Freshman Brittany Harriell led the team with 9.0 points per game last week. She reached double-digits in points for the first time this season with 12 points versus Eastern Illinois. Freshman Erika Lane averaged 8.5 points over the two games, including netting 11 points against the Panthers. The Redhawks will host Eastern Kentucky on Thursday and Morehead State on Saturday.
SIU EDWARDSVILLE COUGARS (6-19): SIU Edwardsville defeated Southeast Missouri (59-57), before falling to Eastern Illinois (74-63) and Miami (60-85). Freshman Michaela Herrod averaged 14.0 points last week including recording back-to-back 20-point efforts against Eastern Illinois and Miami. She added 12 rebounds versus the Panthers for the double-double. The Cougars will host Oakland City on Saturday.
TENNESSEE STATE LADY TIGERS (8-14, 5-8): Tennessee State fell at Murray State (77-69) and UT Martin (60-51). Senior Meredith Stafford extended her double-digit scoring streak to four games. She posted 11 points against Murray State before scoring 20 versus UT Martin. She nearly recorded a double-double with nine rebounds against the Skyhawks. Tennessee State will host Austin Peay on Saturday
TENNESSEE TECH GOLDEN EAGLES (9-14, 4-9): Tennessee Tech dropped contests to Eastern Kentucky (60-61) and Morehead State (80-45) last week. Sophomore Alison West Mason saw her first extended action of the season against Morehead State and recorded a career-high nine points and four rebounds. Freshman Tiara Hopper scored a career-best 17 points versus Eastern Kentucky on 8-of-13 shooting from the field. The Golden Eagles will host Murray State on Thursday and UT Martin on Saturday.
UT MARTIN SKYHAWKS (7-15, 5-7): UT Martin defeated Austin Peay (79-70) and Tennessee State (60-51) last week. The Skyhawks have now won their last three games for the first time since 2006-07. Freshman LaBrica Ward averaged 21.5 points last week. Ward led all players with a career-high 25 points against Tennessee State. She also pulled down 12 rebounds for the double-double. Junior Alecia Weatherly recorded 23.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last week. She posted a career-best 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting against Austin Peay. The Skyhawks will travel Jacksonville State on Thursday and Tennessee Tech on Saturday.