Murray State’s Mariah Robinson is having a big season, averaging 14 points per game and five rebounds.

Eastern’s women’s basketball head coach Brady Sallee said Robinson has been on a tear lately, scoring 19 and 44 points in her last two games, respectively.

“Clearly she’s playing with some confidence and they’re running a lot of stuff for her,” Sallee said.

Sallee said she is one of the players who could give Eastern some problems, but he said there are a lot of other players for the Racers that are good too.

“They have a bunch of kids that can shoot it,” Sallee said.

Sallee said Murray State looks a lot like they have in the past; however, they are just as good.

“They’re maybe one (team) that’s catching confidence at the right time,” Sallee said.

Sophomore guard Ta’Kenya Nixon said she expects Murray State to play hard. Sophomore forward Mariah King said the Racers are going to be bringing their best game against Eastern.

“It’s a big game, and a hard one,” Nixon said.

The Racers have two players who average double digits this season. Kayla Lowe averages 11 points per game, and Robinson averages 14.

Murray State has some players that are shooting a good percent from the field, including Robinson who is shooting 42 percent from the field.

Robinson is also shooting 82 percent from the free throw line.

“They always have nice shooters out there,” Nixon said.

The Panthers are coming off a close loss to Morehead State Saturday.

Sallee said in that game the team got away from how it usually wins games.

Sallee said the team is used to understanding its identity and then daring its opponent to try to beat them.

Saturday, Sallee said the team stopped doing that for some reason.

“We have to go back to who we are,” Sallee said.

Saturday’s loss will hopefully motivate the team to get back on the winning path, according to Sallee.

“I would think with the way things went down they are eager to get back on the winning track,” Sallee said. “That’s what a good team would do.”

King said the team could not be bothered by Saturday’s loss. Instead, she said it is time to move on.

“You have to move on and get ready for the next game,” King said.

The Murray State game Thursday will be the first of a quick two-game road trip for the Panthers, before coming home for four straight games.

Tip off is set for 5:15 p.m. Thursday in Murray, Ky.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.