Wire-to-Wire Precision Leads Racers Past Bradley at MVC Tournament

The Murray State Racers won their opening game of Credit Union 1 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament 86-50 over the Bradley Braves at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. MVC WBB Tournament Logo

The Racers, the No. 1 seed, improved to 23-7 and now advance to Saturday's semifinals where they meet the winner of the game between No. 4 Drake and No. 5 Illinois State in a 1:30 p.m. Central Time tipoff.

Making quick work of the Braves, the Racers hit the first six 3-point shots they took to lead 29-16 and won the second quarter 20-13 to enjoy a 49-29 lead at the halftime intermission. MSU put the game away by taking the fourth quarter 23-8.

Halli Poock had her seventh game this season of 20 or more points with a game-high 21 to lead the Racers in scoring. MSU had 11 players score, including 14 from Haven Ford, 13 from Katelyn Young and 10 from Ava Learn.

The Racers ended with 51 percent shooting from the field (32-of-63), which included 12-of-26 from the 3-point line for 46 percent.

MSU is 3-2 in their third appearance at the MVC Tournament and have won their first game in the event in all three tries.

Game Notes

The Racers are 3-2 in the MVC Tournament and have won their opener to the event in all three appearances after a win over Evansville 88-46 in 2023 and an 87-49 victory over Bradley in 2024.
In their third appearance in the MVC Tournament, the Racers have improved their seed in each event. MSU was No. 8 in 2023 and they were No. 6 in 2024 and are the No. 1 seed in 2025.
Bradley is the first opponent the Racers have played twice in the event and MSU has won both.
MSU has won a season-best eight-straight games.
MSU's 11-game win streak last season is the best in eight seasons for MSU head coach Rechelle Turner at MSU.
Winning 11 in a row is also the MSU program record from last season and also from the 2008-09 season.
MSU is 20-2 this season when they score 80 points or more, with the only losses at Belmont 96-89 (Feb. 1) and home against Drake 92-86 (Feb. 13).
The Racers started the game setting a blistering pace in hitting 12-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-4 from the 3-point line for a 29-16 lead after the first quarter.
MSU started the game 6-of-6 from the 3-point line as Halli Poock and Trinity White each made two and MSU got single threes from Haven Ford and Katelyn Young.
MSU's 19-of-32 (.594) from the field marked their fourth time this season with 19 FG in the first half as the season-high. MSU also had 19 FG at Little Rock, at Indiana State, at Southern Illinois and home vs Western Carolina.
MSU's seven made 3-pointers in the first half was off their season-high of eight they hit at Little Rock.
Poock was 2-of-5 today from the 3-point line and has hit at least one 3-pointer in her last 15 games and in 26-of-28 games this season.
The Racers scored first when Poock scored off the opening tip and the Racers never trailed the rest of the game.
Poock played one MVC Tournament game a year ago at Bradley against the Racers where she scored 16 points and a year later she wore the Racers' uniform and scored 21 points.
Trinity White was 2-of-2 from the 3-point line today and the Racers are now 8-0 this season when she hits at least two 3-pointers.
Katelyn Young scored 13 points and now has 2,959 points in 152 games in her five-season career at MSU.

Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics) and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State men's basketball on Twitter and Instagram (@RacersHoops).

Murray State University

Wire-to-Wire Precision Leads Racers Past Bradley at MVC Tournament

Players Mentioned

Haven Ford

Ava Learn

Halli Poock

Trinity White

Katelyn Young

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