Women's Basketball 12/17/2023 1:20:00 PM Greg Hartlage, Director of Media Relations

Women’s Basketball Hosts Murray State on Monday Afternoon

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball returns home on Monday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tip, welcoming Murray State to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. The contest with the Racers will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required). Live streaming audio (free) from the Catamount Sports Network and live stats are also available at CatamountSports.com.

Fans are encouraged to bring a toy to donate for the Jackson Country Christmas Connection on Monday. Any toy donation will get one free ticket to the game against the Racers. Fans are also encouraged to wear their best holiday sweater to the game.

Matchup: Murray State (6-2) vs Western Carolina (2-9)
Date: Monday, Dec. 18
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center (Cullowhee, N.C.)
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Live Video: Watch ESPN
Live Audio: Catamount Sports Network
Twitter: @CatamountWBB

Western Carolina returns to Cullowhee for its final home game before the holidays, welcoming Murray State out of the Missouri Valley Conference to Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center. Monday's game serves as the Catamounts fifth home game of their last six games after playing four straight home games before Friday's road game at Chapel Hill.

Chelsea Wooten sits in a tie for third in the SoCon with 26 made 3-pointers, connecting on a league-high 2.6 threes per game. Jada Burton sits fourth in the conference with a team-high 44 assists, averaging 4.0 assists per game, which puts her fourth in the league. Burton is also tied for sixth in the league with 17 steals.

Murray State enters Monday's contest with a 6-2 record as the Racers earned a 98-79 victory in last Thursday's home matchup against Little Rock. The Racers have wins in their last five games and scored at least 79 points in all eight games. Murray State sits second nationally in scoring at 94.9 points per game, with only defending national champion LSU outscoring the Racers.

Katelyn Young, a first-team All-MVC selection, leads the Racers on the offensive end with 19.0 points per game as Young has scored double figures in seven straight games, highlighted by 31 in a win over Little Rock. Young was also named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List before the start of the 2023-24 season.

Ava Learn is averaging 12.6 points per game, while Zoe Stewart and Hannah McKay are scoring 10.6 points per game thus far for Murray State. Young leads the way on the glass with 7.9 rebounds per game, and Bria Sanders-Woods has a team-high 31 assists.

Murray State posted a 15-16 record during the 2022-23 campaign as the Racers went 7-13 in the Missouri Valley, earning a win over Evansville in the opening round of the MVC tournament before falling to top-seed Illinois State. The Racers were tabbed seven in the MVC Preseason poll under the direction of seventh-year head coach Rechelle Turner.

Murray State and WCU have met just once before in the two programs' respective histories with the Racers claiming the 86-60 victory in November of 1987. The two teams have never faced off in Cullowhee, with the only prior matchup occurring on Murray State's home floor.

Following Monday's home tilt, the Catamounts travel to Charlotte for a 3 p.m. tip against Queens from Curry Arena. The Royals sit at a 5-5 record on the season as they travel to Radford on Sunday before welcoming WCU to Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon. The matchup with Queens will be shown on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), with live stats available on CatamountSports.com.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's basketball and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, Catamountwbb).

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