Murray State women’s basketball made bid strides during winter break. With their record sitting at 12-4, let’s take a look at how they got there.
Dec. 3 @ Saint Louis
Murray State women’s basketball has continued their impressive run with a dominant 91-66 victory over the Saint Louis Billikens in St. Louis, Missouri, marking their third straight road win. The Racers put together an incredible second-half performance, outscoring the Billikens by 31 points after trailing at six at the half. Murray State exploded offensively in the second period, scoring 55 of their total 91 points. A key factor was their 46% shooting from behind the arc, with 12 three-pointers made.
Katelyn Young was the standout player for the Racers, leading the way with a season-high 25 points, while senior Ava Learn added a double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds, the most rebounds by a Racer since November 2022. The sophomore duo of Haven Ford and Halli Poock continued their strong play, combining for 33 points and eight assists. Trinity White and Briley Pena also contributed with six points each, rounding out a balanced offensive attack.
The win over Saint Louis extended Murray State’s impressive streak of high-scoring performances. The Racers have now won their last three games by a combined 77 points, with all three victories coming on the road. In each of those wins, Murray State has scored at least 87 points.
Dec. 7 vs Austin Peay
Murray State women’s basketball delivered a record-breaking performance on Saturday, Dec. 7, defeating Austin Peay 116-80 at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers set a new benchmark for the most points ever scored in a Division 1 opponent, thanks to their eruptive showing that included 16 three-pointers and a total of six players reaching double figures. The 36-point victory has been the largest margin of victory in the history of rivalry, which spans over 100 meetings.
Poock was the star of the game, leading Murray State with 30 points and eight assists, while also impressively avoiding any turnovers. Young also made impressive contributions, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds. Learn recorded her second consecutive double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Ford, Pena and Braxcynn Baker all recorded double-digit scoring for the first time this season, making a balanced and deep effort. This marked the first time this season that six different Racers scored 10 or more points in the same game.
As a team, Murray State demonstrated their offensive prowess by dishing out 22 assists, showing exceptional ball movement and teamwork. The Racers also shot 50% from beyond the arc, further cementing their reputation as one of the most efficient and high-scoring teams in the nation. This dominant victory not only set a new record but also showcased the depth and versatility of the team, as multiple players contributed to a historic win.
Dec. 15 @ Alabama
Murray State Women’s basketball suffered a 90-63 loss to Alabama on Sunday, December 15th at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Despite a strong start, the Racers struggled in the middle quarters as Alabama used a strong defensive effort to seize control of the game. Poock and Learn were the top performers for Murray State, with Poock scoring 17 points and Learn adding 14 points, along with a team-leading six rebounds.
Both Ford and Young reached double figures in scoring, contributing 10 and 11 points, respectively. The Racers held a narrow lead after the first quarter, but Alabama clamped down defensively, limiting Murray State to just 17 points combined in the second and third quarters. This defensive surge helped the Crimson Tide pull away and ultimately secure the victory.
The game also marked the end of Murray State’s four-game win streak overall and their three-game winning streak on the road.
This game was a tough test for Murray State, but the Racers will take the lessons learned from this matchup and continue to build on their strong performances as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
Dec. 19 vs Western Carolina
The Racers wrapped up their non-conference schedule with a bow on their home court, defeating Western Carolina 110-79. This is the fourth game this season that the Racers have scored over 100 points, and the first game in which 11 players have scored.
Young set the tone with 23 points and five rebounds, bringing her to 2,469 career points. Ford secured 20 points, four steals, and four assists, Poock just behind her with 18 points and seven assists. Baker had 13 points, Destiny Thomas scored 13 points, and Jada Cook and Pena collected seven points each.
The team tied their single half scoring record of 62, which was set in their most recent game against Austin Peay, and forced 15 WCU turnovers in the first 20 minutes. This was the sixth game this season that the Racers have made over 10 three pointers. Murray State showed the depth of their bench during this game, as 42 points were scored outside the starting five. Freshmen Adriana Blazquez and Grace Billington earned five minutes on the floor and scored their first career points.
Hall of Famer Amber Guffey’s jersey was retired before the game, honoring her time spent at Murray State both as a player and an assistant coach.
The Racers averaged 90.1 points per game, which was the sixth most points in the country as of this game.
Dec. 29 vs Illinois State
Murray State defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 91-80 at the CFSB Center in their first Missouri Valley Conference game of the season, leaving behind a generous legacy during 2024. This is the third conference opener in a row that the Racers have won since entering the Missouri Valley Conference three seasons ago.
Despite being outscored in the first half by three points, the Racers took and maintained the lead midway through the third quarter, outshooting the Redbirds by 14 points in the second half. The team shot 87% on the free throw line, sinking 20 out of their 23 attempts.
Four Racers scored in the double digits, Ford taking a double double with 22 points 12 rebounds, and three steals. Poock led the scoresheet with 25 points, while Young followed with 21 points. Learn scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Jan. 2 @ SIU
The Racers defeated Southern Illinois 93-69 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Young became the 79th player in Division I history and the first Racer in men’s or women’s basketball to surpass the 2,500 point milestone. She reached her 2,500th career point on her 10th point of the game, and went on to score a total of 20 points.
Ford reached 22 points and 10 assists, while Trinity White posted a season high 11 points with five rebounds. Ava Learn took 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out five assists. Baker contributed 10 points, Pena following with nine points.
Murray State continuously proves themselves as one of the best three point shooting teams in the nation, sinking 13 three point attempts against Southern Illinois. For the fifth time this season, the Racers have had more than 20 assists in a game, as they dished out 25 during this game. This is the third straight season the Racers have started 2-0 in MVC play.
Jan. 4 @ Missouri State
Murray State women’s basketball suffered an 85-78 defeat to Missouri State on Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Missouri, marking the Racers’ first loss in Missouri Valley Conference play this season. Coming into the game, Murray State had been on a hot streak, winning three consecutive contests and scoring 91 or more points in each of those victories.
Young led the way for the Racers with a strong performance, finishing with 23 points and five rebounds. Learn and White also contributed significantly, each scoring nine points, with Learn pulling down eight rebounds and White adding seven. Ford, despite battling foul trouble throughout the game, managed to score 15 points for Murray State. Baker added nine points, knocking down three key three-pointers, while Briley Pena contributed seven points and five assists.
The Racers were effective in the paint, scoring 40 points inside, and they also showcased their defensive prowess with 12 steals as a team.
Jan. 10 vs Valparaiso
Murray State women’s basketball delivered an impressive 82-45 victory over Valparaiso on Friday night at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky. The win was a milestone for Head Coach Rechelle Turner, as it marked her 120th career victory with the program, tying her with Rob Cross for the most wins in Racer women’s basketball history.
The game featured dominant performances across the board, with three different players recording double-doubles. Young led the way with 19 points and 12 rebounds, continuing her strong season. Learn, in a standout effort, grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to go along with 12 points, while Ford contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds. Poock added 10 points to the offensive effort, while both White and Thomas chipped in with eight points apiece.
As a team, Murray State was dominant on the boards, pulling down 62 rebounds, one of the 10 highest single-game totals in the program’s history. The Racers’ rebounding prowess was matched by their defensive pressure, as they held Valparaiso to just 28 rebounds and forced the Beacons into 23 turnovers. Murray State’s defense was particularly stingy in the final quarter, limiting Valpo to just nine points in the fourth, while the Racers exploded for 18 points in the frame to extend their lead to 37 by the final buzzer.
January 12 vs UIC
Head Coach Rechelle Turner made history on Jan. 12 as she became the all-time wins leader in Murray State women’s basketball history, leading the Racers to a 67-60 victory over UIC at the CFSB Center. In her eighth season at the helm, Turner notched her 121st career win, surpassing Rob Cross to become the winningest coach in program history.
The Racers were led by a strong performance from their senior duo of Young and Learn. Young scored 15 points, while Learn secured a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomores also stepped up in the win, with Poock and Ford each contributing 11 points. Baker added nine points, going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc to help provide a spark from long range.
In what turned into a gritty, defensive battle, Murray State’s defense proved to be a key factor. The Racers forced UIC into 20 turnovers, creating extra possessions and limiting the Flames’ offensive opportunities. On the offensive end, Murray State capitalized on its trips to the free-throw line, sinking 15 free throws compared to just eight from UIC, which ultimately made the difference in the tight contest.
