Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball hits the midway point of its three-game road swing as they head to Kentucky to face the Murray State Racers in a 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET tip on Thursday.
Winners of two straight and with four of its seasonal victories coming on the road, the Catamounts enter the matchup with a 7-4 record, while the Racers ride in at 5-3, having won two of their three home dates.
Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ (paid subscription required), and live stats will be available online at CatamountSports.com.
Thursday's Women's Basketball Matchup:
Western Carolina (7-4) vs Murray State (5-3)
Dec. 19, 2024 | CFSB Center | Murray, KY. | 7 P.M. EST
Full Court Press:
In only the third matchup all-time between the Catamounts and Racers, WCU is searching for its first win in the series after Murray State raced out of Cullowhee with an 89-79 victory last December. The two teams met once in the 20th century, as Murray State claimed a series-opening 86-60 win over the Catamounts in Murray in 1987.
The two teams haven't battled a common opponent or a representative from the other's respective conference yet this season but have battled a pair of SEC opponents. Murray State most recently fell to the Alabama Crimson Tide 90-63 in Tuscaloosa and dropped a battle in Baton Rouge to the LSU Tigers 74-60. The Catamounts faced the then-9th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, falling 122-56 and losing to the Tennessee Lady Vols 102-50.
Players to Watch:
The Southern Conference Player of the Week, AC Carter enjoyed a career performance against the Queens Royals in the Catamounts' last outing. Carter posted a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double and added eight assists as she nearly came away with a triple-double in the road win. She was one of two Catamounts to post double-doubles in the victory over Queens as Tyja Beans scored a career-high 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
In last season's loss to the Racers, Chelsea Wooten posted a strong 17-point, seven-assist effort with Zanoria Cruz picking up 11 points and four rebounds in the home bout. Additionally, Jada Burton handed out seven assists and swiped a pair of steals.
A top-ten statistical offense nationally and the highest-ranked non-power five team in total offense, the Racers boast a lineup consisting of four players all averaging 15.0 or more points per game with Halli Poock leading the way with a 17.5 point per game average. Katelyn Young averages 16.8 points while Haven Ford and Ava Learn have 16.1 and 15.0 scoring averages, respectively. Already Murray State's all-time leading scorer, Young is the sole preseason All-Missouri Valley selection on the Racer's squad, earning first-team plaudits back in October.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU closes its three-game road trip with a visit to Asheville to battle UNC Asheville. Saturday afternoon's game is set for a 4 p.m. tip as the Catamounts make their CW debut against the Bulldogs. The mountain rivalry matchup will also air on ESPN+ (paid subscription required).
Following the matchup with Asheville, the Catamounts will retreat for the holidays before returning to the hardwood on December 30 as they host Southern Wesleyan to close out 2024.
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).
