(MURRAY, Ky.) – Halli Poock turned in back-to-back stellar performances as the Murray State Racers women’s basketball team secured a crucial home weekend sweep, defeating Valparaiso 95-69 on Friday and edging UIC 79-77 on Sunday to improve to 22-3 overall and 13-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The junior guard dominated both contests, scoring 26 points against Valparaiso before following up with a game-high 32 points in Sunday’s nail-biter against UIC. Her clutch performance in the close victory included hitting 11-of-19 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Fridiay: Racers Roll Past Winless Valpo
Murray State delivered a dominant performance against Valparaiso (0-25, 0-14 MVC), using a 40-point third quarter explosion to put the game out of reach. The Racers shot an impressive 75 percent from the field in the decisive period, including 7-of-11 from three-point range.
“We really found our rhythm in the third quarter,” Head Coach Rechelle Turner said as Murray State outscored the Crusaders 40-17 in the frame to turn a 12-point halftime lead into a commanding advantage.
Haven Ford added 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including five three-pointers, while Keslyn Secrist contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks also recorded 15 points and pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds.
The Racers finished with 48 points in the paint and forced 14 turnovers, converting them into 25 points. Murray State’s bench contributed 14 points, with Brax Baker hitting both of her three-point attempts for five points.
Sunday: Racers Survive UIC Rally
In a much tighter affair, Murray State had to withstand a furious fourth-quarter comeback by UIC (11-14, 6-8 MVC) to secure the two-point victory before 1,875 fans at CFSB Center.
The Racers built leads of up to 17 points in the second quarter and led 47-35 at halftime. However, UIC fought back behind strong performances from Jessica Carrothers (21 points) and Amelia Strong (20 points off the bench).
The Flames cut the deficit to two points with 24 seconds remaining when Carrothers tied the game at 77-77. But Currie-Jelks came through in the clutch, hitting both free throws with two seconds left to give Murray State the victory.
“It came down to making plays when it mattered most,” junior Destiny Thomas commented, as the Racers held on despite shooting just 33 percent in the fourth quarter.
Poock’s 32-point effort led four Racers in double figures. Currie-Jelks finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Secrist added 12 points and seven rebounds. Ford chipped in eight points and seven assists.
UIC’s Julia Coleman recorded 17 points and seven rebounds in the loss, while Tutu Clayton added 13 points. The Flames outscored Murray State 50-32 in the paint but couldn’t overcome their three-point shooting struggles, making just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Looking Ahead
The weekend sweep keeps Murray State in first place with six conference games remaining in the regular season. The Racers have now won 13 of their 14 conference games, positioning themselves for a strong seed in the upcoming conference tournament in Coralville, Iowa.
Murray State’s ability to win in different ways – dominating Valparaiso with offensive firepower and gutting out a close victory against UIC – demonstrates the team’s versatility as they head into the final stretch of the season.
The Racers will play in Peoria at Bradley on Friday night at 6 p.m.
PHOTO-Prof. David Eaton, MSU Athletics
Box Score Highlights:
Murray State 95, Valparaiso 69
- Leading Scorers: Poock 26, Ford 25, Secrist 15, Currie-Jelks 15
- Key Stats: 47.4% FG, 37.9% 3PT, 47 rebounds
Murray State 79, UIC 77
- Leading Scorers: Poock 32, Currie-Jelks 13, Secrist 12
- Key Stats: 46.6% FG, 34.8% 3PT, 35 rebounds
