(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa) — Murray State’s remarkable 14-game winning streak came to an end Friday night as the Racers fell to Northern Iowa 89-74 at the McLeod Center, despite a strong individual performance from Halli Poock.
Poock led all scorers with 21 points in what amounted to a homecoming game for the Waterloo, Iowa native, but her efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Panthers’ exceptional shooting display. Northern Iowa connected on better than 60 percent of their field goal attempts and made nearly three-quarters of their shots from beyond the arc.
The Panthers seized control in the opening quarter, building a 24-19 advantage they would maintain throughout the contest. Murray State, which entered the game with a 16-2 record and a 7-0 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play, couldn’t find an answer for UNI’s offensive efficiency.
Sharnecce Currie-Jelks provided solid support with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Haven Ford contributed 11 points for the Racers. Keslyn Secrist pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds while adding eight points.
Northern Iowa received balanced scoring, with Jenna Twedt pacing the attack with 20 points. Taryn Wharton and Kaylynn Janes each added 15 points as the Panthers improved to 10-8 overall and 6-2 in conference competition.
Murray State dominated the paint, outscoring the hosts 42-36 in that area, but struggled from distance. The Racers managed just seven three-pointers on 26 attempts, a stark contrast to Northern Iowa’s perimeter success.
The loss dropped Murray State to 16-3 overall and 7-1 in the MVC, though the Racers remain atop the conference standings. Their winning streak, which began November 22 and represented the longest in program history, had helped them to their best conference start since joining the Valley.
Murray State will look to bounce back Sunday when they travel to face Drake.
