By Ted McCoart, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. – After earning back-to-back victories inside the friendly confines of Johnson Arena, the Morehead State Women’s Basketball team will travel to Lexington, Ky., on Thursday for a 7:00 p.m. ET date with No. 13 Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum.
The Eagles enter the matchup against the Wildcats possessing an even 2-2 record for the 2019-20 season. Morehead State dropped its season-opener at Bowling Green and suffered a narrow defeat at home against Stetson on Friday before turning their fortunes against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Sunday and Midway (Ky.) on Tuesday evening.
For Eagles’ head coach Greg Todd, Tuesday’s victory earned him his 90th win with team. Todd, who is four games into his sixth season, is 90-72 (.560) overall. Since 2016 Todd paces all Ohio Valley Conference coaches with a league-best 68 wins.
Offensively MSU is coming off its best game of its young seasons after shooting 48% from the field while also knocking down nine three-point buckets. In a 107-55 toppling of Midway. In the win, six Eagles scored in double figures with guards Alyssa Nieves and Tomiyah Alford both posting career-bests of 20 points.
Nieves, who is a 5-foot-6 junior college newcomer from South Georgia Tech, knocked down six triples for Morehead State on 6-of-11 shooting from deep. Since 2015-16, Nieves is one-of -three Eagles (Aliyah Jeune 2018-19/ Natalie Greenwell 2015-16) to make six shots from deep in a game. Darianne Seward, a 2018-19 graduate of Morehead State and point guard, stands alone atop the list with seven makes on Feb. 12, 2017, against Belmont at home.
After four games, the Eagles are averaging 73 points, 41.8 rebounds, and 11.3 assists per game.
Individually, freshman guard Ariel Kirkwood leads the team with an average of 12.8 pointer per game. Kirkwood led Morehead State’s win over the Red Flash on Sunday with a 21 point and 12 rebound effort. The Milwaukee native became the first freshman since 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Miranda Crockett (2015-19) posted three as a rookie.
Kentucky hosts the Eagles at Memorial Coliseum with a 4-0 overall record having notched wins over Mt. St. Mary’s, Middle Tennessee, Stetson, and Virginia. Nationally the Wildcats are ranked No.13 by the Associated Press.
Sophomore Rhyne Howard, who was the unanimous National Freshman of the Year in 2019, currently is leading UK with 15 points and seven rebounds per game.
Kentucky is coached by Matthew Mitchell who is in his 13th season in Lexington after beginning his head coaching career at Morehead State in 2005. Under Mitchell’s guidance from 2005-2007, the Eagles went 30-29 overall. The 15-year bench has a career mark 315-154 (.671).
The Wildcats have won the previous 14 matchups against Morehead State and lead the all-time series 31-4.
Fans can watch Thursday’s game on SEC Network + or listen to Emma Tiedemann’s call of the action on the Eagle Sports Network, 96.3-FM WIVY. Live statistics can be accessed on MSUEagles.com.