Murray State’s leading scorer might miss the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, said head coach Joi Felton Tuesday.

Joi Scott, the eighth-best scorer in the country at 21.7 points per game, injured her left knee with less than five minutes to play in Murray’s win against Tennessee Tech on Thursday.

Scott didn’t practice Friday, didn’t play in Saturday’s loss against Tennessee-Martin and was not expected to practice Monday, said David Snow, Murray’s coordinator of sports information.

“We just have to prepare if we don’ t have her and if we do, that’s great,” Felton said.

Murray, the No. 2 seed in the OVC Tournament, hosts Eastern Kentucky tonight in first-round tournament action.

EKU head coach Larry Joe Inman said facing Murray even without Scott playing is a tough task.

But Inman knows what type of player Scott is.

“Joi Scott’s one of a kind,” he said.

EKU back in tournament

A week ago, EKU worried about missing its second consecutive OVC Tournament.

But after two wins last week, Inman and his team erased any doubts about making the tournament and the Lady Colonels are in as the No. 7 seed.

Being in the OVC Tournament is a common scenario for Inman, in his 19th year at EKU, and his teams.

EKU made the tournament 15 straight years (1992-2005) before missing last year’s tournament.

“To be back in the tournament, it’s always a great thing,” Inman said. “You win three games and you’re in (the NCAA Tournament).”

EKU has won the OVC Tournament twice under Inman.

Coaches say tournament is up for grabs

Parity and balance are the key words OVC head coaches have used all season long.

The same holds true for the conference tournament.

Southeast Missouri acting head coach John Ishee said the league is so balanced, any of the eight teams can win the tournament.

“We have to come ready to play,” said Ishee, whose team is the No. 1 seed and hosts Austin Peay tonight.

Felton said with the league having a 20-game conference schedule and each team playing each other twice, teams get to “know your opponents inside and out.”

“Seeding doesn’t mean a thing,” Felton said. “Any team in this tournament can win the tournament. And that’s the exciting thing.”

Lady Eagles on skid entering tournament

Morehead State Matthew Mitchell said he is unhappy with how his team has played lately.

Morehead comes into the tournament with the No. 3 seed and hosts Tennessee-Martin, but have lost six of its last nine games.

“Hopefully the home game will help us because we need something right now that will try to get something going,” Mitchell said.

EKU spending time away from home

Inman has had his EKU squad away from Richmond, Ky., since last week.

The Lady Colonels played in Clarksville, Tenn., against Austin Peay last Thursday before traveling to Nashville, Tenn., to play Tennessee State on Saturday.

Tonight, EKU is in Murray, Ky., to play the Lady Racers.

“We’re all thinking about being truck drivers we’ve been on the road so much,” joked Inman. “We’ve enjoyed being together but the only thing I hate is missing so much school. That’s the only downer for us.”