(CHICAGO, Ill.) — Halli Poock stepped to the free-throw line with one second on the clock, her team trailing by one. She knocked down all three.
That sequence — calm, composed, and clutch — encapsulated Thursday night’s wild finish at Credit Union 1 Arena, where the Murray State women’s basketball team escaped Chicago with a 78-76 victory over UIC to improve their record-setting regular season to 27-3 overall and 18-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play, with one regular season game remaining on Saturday.
Poock finished with a game-high 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting, adding three triples and going 11-of-15 from the free-throw line. Her final three free throws — all made in the game’s final second after a Clayton foul — turned a 76-75 deficit into a 78-76 lead that UIC couldn’t erase.
“That’s a veteran player making veteran plays,” MSU Head Coach Rechelle Turner said of one of her star guards.
A Night Full of Drama
The Racers led for much of the contest but could never pull away from a scrappy UIC squad playing at home. The game was tied ten times and the lead changed hands ten times, with UIC seizing control in the third quarter and pushing its advantage to as many as six in the fourth.
Down 74-72 with just over a minute remaining, Poock buried a go-ahead three-pointer — assisted by Sharnecce Currie-Jelks — to knot the game at 74. After Murray State grabbed the lead, Jessica Carrothers answered with a layup to put UIC up 76-75 with seven seconds left.
Then came the foul. The free throws. The final buzzer.
UIC’s Carrothers had a chance to win it at the horn, but her jumper fell short as the Racers celebrated on the road.
Coleman, Carrothers Torch Murray State’s Defense
Murray State’s win came despite an outstanding performance from UIC’s Julia Coleman, who poured in 32 points on a blistering 15-of-20 from the field. Coleman was a menace in the paint all night, finishing with three blocks as well.
Carrothers was equally dangerous, recording 27 points, 10 assists, and three steals while shooting 10-of-21 from the floor. The UIC duo combined for 59 of the Flames’ 76 points.
UIC shot 55 percent from the field for the game — outpacing Murray State’s 50.9 percent — and held a 52-26 edge in points in the paint. Despite that interior dominance, the Racers’ ball movement and free-throw advantage (18-of-23, 78.3%) proved to be the difference.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Beyond Poock’s heroics, Haven Ford contributed 13 points and five rebounds, while Currie-Jelks posted 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. Currie-Jelks was relentless on the glass and defensively, registering four steals on the night.
Keslyn Secrist chipped in 10 points and was steady in crunch time, making both of her free throws in the fourth quarter as Murray State fought back from six down.
Briley Pena connected on two three-pointers — both in the second quarter — to help the Racers build their biggest lead of the first half.
Up Next
Murray State heads into Indiana Saturday afternoon to take on Valparaiso in their final regular season contest. After the 1:00 p.m. tilt with the Beacons, focus will turn to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament next week in Coralville, Iowa.
Murray State improves to 27-3 (18-1 MVC). UIC falls to 14-16 (9-10 MVC).
PHOTO-Clay Wagoner, MSU Athletics
