MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering disparity at the free-throw line, the Murray State Racers outlasted the Saint Louis Billikens 96-88 in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Saturday at the CFSB Center.

The Racers, despite shooting just 34.3% from the field, secured the victory by capitalizing on a massive 50 free-throw attempts, converting 44 of them. The Billikens, by contrast, attempted only 14 free throws, making 12.

Murray State’s offense was powered by a dominant duo. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, a 6-foot-2 forward from Jackson, Tennessee, recorded a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds. She was complemented by guard Halli Poock of Waterloo, Iowa, who also scored 28 points and added five rebounds and four assists. Keslyn Secrist, from Draper, Virginia, contributed another double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Racers.

Saint Louis was led by a strong backcourt performance from Alexia Nelson, who scored 21 points and dished out five assists, and Zya Nugent, who added 23 points and six rebounds. Zhykera Brown chipped in 14 points for the Billikens.

The game was a tale of two halves and contrasting styles. Saint Louis built its offense from the inside, scoring 40 points in the paint and shooting 46.1% from the field. Murray State struggled with its shooting all night, making only six of 25 attempts from beyond the arc, but relentlessly attacked the basket to draw fouls.

After a competitive first half that saw Murray State take a 41-35 lead into the break, the Billikens mounted a charge in the third quarter. They outscored the Racers 23-17 in the period to tie the game at 58 heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter, however, belonged to Murray State and its parade to the free-throw line. The Racers exploded for 38 points in the period, with 18 of those coming from free throws. They attempted 22 free throws in the final quarter alone, steadily pulling away from a Saint Louis team that could not counter with similar opportunities.

Murray State also benefited from a slight edge in ball security, committing only 12 turnovers compared to 17 for Saint Louis, which led to a 21-14 advantage in points off turnovers.

With the win, Murray State improved its record to 3-1 on the young season. Saint Louis, which has lost four of its first five games, will look to rebound in its next contest. The Racers’ victory was in line with pre-game statistical projections that heavily favored the home team. An announced crowd of 2,147 attended the game.