Halli Poock scored a career-high 38 points to lead Murray State to a 78-76 win over UIC on Thursday night at Credit Union 1 Arena. With the Racers trailing by one and only 1.5 seconds left in the game, Poock was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to secure the victory.
Poock’s performance included making 12 of her 20 shots, with three successful three-pointers and an 11-for-15 effort from the free-throw line. She also contributed four assists and a steal during her 36 minutes on the court. Her previous personal best was 34 points.
The Racers, now holding a record of 27-3 overall and 18-1 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play, faced strong opposition from UIC in a contest that saw ten ties and ten lead changes. Haven Ford added 13 points for Murray State, while Sharnecce Currie-Jelks recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
UIC’s Julia Coleman led her team with 32 points on efficient shooting, going 15-of-20 from the field. Jessica Carrothers also had a significant impact for the Flames with 27 points and ten assists.
Murray State held an early advantage after the first quarter but entered halftime tied at 37. The Racers finished shooting just over fifty percent from the field and took advantage of their opportunities at the free-throw line in the second half to help clinch their road win.
Poock has now scored at least thirty points six times this season. Her latest performance is not only her highest but also marks the top single-game scoring output by any MVC player this year, making her one of only six players in Division I women’s basketball to reach that mark this season. She leads the MVC with an average of 22.3 points per game overall and is averaging nearly twenty-six per game against conference opponents.
Currie-Jelks continues to stand out nationally as well, earning her twenty-third double-double of the year—a total that leads all players across Division I women’s basketball this season.
With this victory, Murray State sets a new program record for single-season wins at twenty-seven. The Racers have secured the number one seed for next week’s MVC Tournament and will close out their regular season schedule Saturday against Valparaiso.
