Conference season is drawing nearer for the women’s basketball teams of the OVC. 

All of the teams in the conference have played six or more games in nonconference play, with two teams having played nine times so far. 

Only two teams in the OVC, Murray State and Eastern, have records above .500, with the conference’s teams combining for a 34-42 record. 

Murray State currently has the OVC’s best record at 6-2 and are coming off a nine-point loss to Samford on Dec. 4. 

The Racers have the top-rated offense in the OVC, averaging a conference-high 76.5 points per game. They rank second in defense, allowing just 58.6 points per game. 

Eastern is in second with an overall record of 5-4. Its most recent game was an 87-81 win over Northern Illinois in the Compass Tournament. 

The Panther offense is averaging 71.9 points per game, ranking second in the conference. Their defense ranks sixth with 68 points per game allowed. 

A trio of teams are .500 with Austin Peay and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at 3-3 and Belmont at 4-4.

Austin Peay has lost its last two games to Davidson and Tulsa after starting the season 3-1. 

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville had won three games in a row before losing its last game against Missouri, while Belmont has lost three of its last four games, including its last game against Louisville. 

All three OVC teams with Tennessee in their names are 3-5 to start the season. 

Tennessee State has lost its last three games, including a 71-70 loss to Mercer in their most recent game on Dec. 5. 

Tennessee Tech is one of three teams in the OVC coming off a win, having beaten Western Kentucky on Dec. 5 to snap a five-game losing streak. 

Tennessee-Martin has lost three in a row as well, with their last two losses coming by just five points each. 

Southeast Missouri sits in ninth place at 3-6 overall, with a blowout win over Harris-Stowe being their most recent game, which snapped a three-game losing streak. 

Morehead State currently sits in last place with a 1-5 record. Their most recent game was against Baylor, which is currently the No. 5 team in the nation according to the AP Poll. 

The Eagles scored just 28 points against the Bears, losing 73-28. 

Individually, the top two scorers in the conference are on Murray State. 

Forward Katelyn Young is leading the OVC with 21 points per game and guard Macey Turley is second with 17.5 points per game. 

Young also leads the conference in rebounding per game, averaging 9.6.

Eastern guard Kira Arthofer leads the conference with 5.4 assists per game, 1.1 higher than the second-ranked player. 

Adam Tumino can be reached at 581-2812 or ajtumino@eiu.edu.