Friday, Feb 6th- Racers vs. UIC
Murray State women’s basketball suffered a 79-70 defeat by the University of Illinois Chicago flames on Friday night in Chicago, Illinois, marking a challenging outing for the Racers. Despite the loss, the team’s all-time leading scorer, Kaitlyn Young, delivered another stellar performance, pouring in 25 points and adding to her remarkable legacy by moving into the top 40 on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring list.
Young was supported by the pair of talented sophomores, Halli Poock and Haven Ford, who were the team’s second and third-highest scorers in the game. Poock finished with 17 points, while Ford contributed 14 points. Ford also stepped up in other areas, leading the Racers with six assists and pulling down six rebounds, showcasing her all-around game.
The Flames made a strong start, outpacing the Racers to a 26-16 lead by the end of the first quarter. Murray State struggled to recover, as UIC controlled the boards, finishing the game with a 38-23 advantage in rebounds. Additionally, the Racers’ shooting woes from beyond the arc hindered their chances, as they were held to just 27% shooting from three-point range.
Despite the setback, the trio of Young, Poock, and Ford continue to stand out as some of the most prolific scorers in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. Young leads the league with an impressive 20.6 points per game, while Poock and Ford also rank within the conference’s top 10 in scoring. Poock and Ford averaged 17 and 14 points.
Sunday, Feb 9th- Racers vs. Valparaiso
The Murray State women’s basketball team earned a decisive 77-57 victory over Valparaiso on Sunday afternoon in Valparaiso, Indiana, thanks to a stellar second-half performance. After entering the break trailing by three, the Racers exploded in the final 20 minutes, outscoring the Beacons 43-20 to seal the win.
Briley Pena led the charge with 17 points, including five three-pointers, while Halli Poock added 15, Katelyn Young contributed 13, and freshman Braxcynn Baker chipped in 10. In addition to their offensive success, Haven Ford played a key role in facilitating the offense, tallying seven assists and nine points. Ford, Poock and Baker proved to be sharpshooters from beyond the arc, combining for 11 three-pointers, with Pena leading the way in that category.
Defensively, the Racers were relentless, forcing 28 turnovers and collecting 13 steals. Ava Learn and Ford led the team with three steals each, while seniors Young and Trinity White added two steals apiece. Murray State’s defense stifled Valparaiso’s long-range shooting, limiting them to just two made three-pointers on the day, while the Racers hit 12 of their own from beyond the arc.
With this victory, Murray State improves to 9-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play and now sits in a tie for third place with Drake.
