EVANSVILLE – Sophomore guard Halli Poock was the star for the Murray State women’s basketball team as they took down the Bradley Braves to advance to the semifinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) tournament.

Murray State shot 59% from the field and went 7-for-12 from the three-point line in the first half. The backcourt duo of Poock and sophomore guard Haven Ford led the Racers with 14  and 11 points, respectively. The Racers had a good defensive first half, holding Bradley to only 29 points and forcing them to turn the ball over nine times.

Defense continued to be the calling card for the Racers in the second half. They held the Braves to 21 second half points and held guard Soleil Barnes to only two points in the half. She scored 12 in the first. The Racers closed the game on their terms, beating Bradley 86-50 in their second meeting this season.

Four of the five Murray State starters scored in double figures, led by Poock who posted 21 points on 67% shooting, along with four rebounds and four assists. Ford finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. Senior forward Ava Learn finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Though senior guard Trinity White only had six points, she grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. That rebound total was also a team and game-high.

Graduate forward Katelyn Young had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds. Her career point total now stands at 2,959. She is now 23 points shy of passing LaToya Thomas for the 16th most points in Division 1 women’s basketball history.

Murray State will play in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 against the Drake Bulldogs. The teams split the regular season series.