Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Illinois State
Racers Host Redbirds for MVC Home Opener
1/2/2026 8:55:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Murray State women's basketball starts its MVC home slate with Illinois State on Friday night
The Murray State women's basketball team looks to extend its hot start to the new year Friday night as it hosts Illinois State in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup at the CFSB Center.
The Racers (10-2, 1-0 MVC) enter the contest ranked fifth in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and boast the top-scoring offense in the conference, averaging 82.9 points per game. Murray State is led by Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, whose 20.2 points per game rank 16th nationally. The Racers have been dominant on the boards and at the charity stripe, leading the Valley in rebounding (42.5 rpg) and free-throw percentage (.813).
Illinois State (7-6, 1-1 MVC) arrives in Murray on a two-game winning streak. The Redbirds are powered by a pair of standout freshmen: Kya Hurt, who recently posted a career-high 26 points against Indiana State, and Madison Austin. Illinois State leads the all-time series 5-3, though the Racers took the most recent meeting with a 91-80 victory in late 2024.
Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
