Murray State Secures Second Consecutive MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament Title, Earns NCAA Tournament Berth

Coralville, Iowa – The Murray State Racers women’s basketball team defeated the Evansville Purple Aces 91-70 on Sunday, securing their second straight Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Racers (31-3) have now won 15 consecutive games under the leadership of ninth-year head coach Rechelle Turner.

Poock Leads the Way with 33 Points

Halli Poock led all scorers with a remarkable 33 points, shooting 12 of 19 from the field, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. Shamecce Currie-Jelks added a double-double performance with 12 points and 16 rebounds, along with seven assists. Haven Ford contributed 18 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Keslyn Secrist added 12 points for Murray State.

Evansville’s Tournament Run Ends

Despite the loss, Evansville (10-25) had a strong showing in the tournament, upsetting both second-seeded Belmont and third-seeded Illinois State to reach the championship game. Mireia Mustaros led the Purple Aces with 16 points off the bench, while Sydney Huber and Breaunna Ward each scored 15 points, and Camryn Runner added 12.

Racers Dominate from the Start

Murray State quickly established control of the game, opening with a 13-0 run to take a 16-4 lead in the first five and a half minutes. Poock scored 13 of her 33 points in the first quarter, giving the Racers a 21-10 advantage. They continued their strong performance in the second quarter, extending their lead to 46-27 by halftime. A 7-0 run early in the second period, fueled by Currie-Jelks and Ford, pushed the lead to 28-10.

Second-Half Surge Seals the Victory

The Racers continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring Evansville 24-17 in the third quarter to extend their lead to 70-44. Murray State’s victory marks only the third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, with the previous two coming in 2008 and now back-to-back championships.

Looking Ahead

With a record of 31-3, Murray State enters the NCAA Tournament on a 15-game winning streak, poised to make a strong showing in the national competition. The Racers will await their seeding and opponent announcement during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.