Racers Defeat Austin Peay for Fifth Straight Win

By Austin Stuckey, SSM

CLARKSVILLE, TN - Murray State kept the momentum rolling on the road, taking down Austin Peay 74-56 and extending their win streak to five straight. The Racers move to 7-2 and continue to look like one of the strongest teams in the Missouri Valley Conference, sitting second in the standings.

Murray State set the tone early. The Racers jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter and never let Austin Peay settle in. Every time the Governors tried to make a run, Murray State answered with pace and toughness.

The offense ran through Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, and she delivered a dominant performance. She finished with 29 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 9-of-14 and getting to the line all night. Her energy and presence inside powered the Racers.

Halli Poock stayed efficient and controlled, scoring 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Haven Ford added 11 points, seven rebounds, and steady play on both ends. Briley Pena knocked down all three of her threes and finished with 9, giving the Racers timely spacing.

Defensively, Murray State was sharp from start to finish. They held Austin Peay to 8 points in the opening quarter and kept them under 37% shooting for the game. The guards pressured the perimeter, the bigs controlled the glass, and the team’s rotations stayed tight. Murray State won the rebounding battle 36-33 and made scoring tough for the Governors’ top options.

Austin Peay tried to stay in it behind Veronaye Charlton (17) and Anovia Sheals (14), but they couldn’t match the Racers’ balance or execution.

In the fourth quarter, Murray State closed it out with authority, scoring 23 points and pushing the lead out of reach. It was the kind of finish you expect from a team playing confident, connected basketball.

For Coach Rechelle Turner’s squad, this game showed maturity. Road test. Rival crowd. The Racers stayed locked in, played their style, and handled business.

Murray State moves to 7-2. Five straight wins. Another strong statement from one of the hottest teams in the MVC.

The Racers are rolling.