UNI women's basketball hosts Murray State in first home MVC game

UNI women's basketball vs. Murray State

6 p.m. | Jan. 6
Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,500)
ESPN3 | Announcers: TBA
KXEL | Chris Kleinhaus-Schulz: Play-by-play

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Panthers return to the McLeod Center for the first time in a month to play against a new Missouri Valley Conference opponent.

UNI will welcome the Murray State Racers to Cedar Falls for the second time in program history. The two once played against each other in a non-conference home-and-home series in the mid-2000s. The Panthers came away with both wins in those meetings and hopes to do the same this season in Valley play.

THE PANTHERS:
- UNI heads home with a 2-0 start to Valley play for the second time in three years. The Panthers downed Bradley and Illinois State by double-digits in their first MVC road swing of the season.
- For the first time since 2017, the Panthers started MVC play 2-0 while on the road. UNI started conference play on the road in 2021 as well but went 1-1. In 2017, the Panthers went 8-1 to start Valley play with their win streak being snapped by Drake in double overtime at the end of January.
- UNI will welcome Murray State and Belmont to Cedar Falls this week in the team's first year in the MVC. The Panthers have previously played Murray State in the mid-2000s but will face off against
Belmont for the first time in program history on Sunday.
- Sophomore forward Grace Boffeli was named the first MVC Player of the Week for 2023. Boffeli almost averaged a double-double in the first week of Valley play with 21.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. She was also named to the NCAA's Starting Five for her performance in the first week of Valley play.

THE RACERS:
-Murray State is off to its best start since the 1980s with a 9-2 overall record. The Racers have also won both of their MVC matchups with victories against UIC and Valparaiso at home.
- The Racers joined the MVC this season after spending 74 years in the Ohio Valley Conference. Murray State was one of the founding members of the OVC in 1948 along with eight other members. The Racers are still an OVC affiliate school for their rifle and football programs.
- Murray State is looking for a historic win against the Panthers on Friday night. If the Racers can pull off a win in the McLeod Center, it will be the program's 650th win since the program was established in 1974-75.
- The Racers are led by forward Katelyn Young, who was named to the preseason All-MVC team after being named the 2021-22 OVC Player of the Year. Young averages 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game to lead the team in both categories. She also averages 3.1 assists a game.

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