MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — The Murray State Racers unleashed a devastating third-quarter surge to turn a competitive game into a rout, cruising past the winless Valparaiso Beacons 95-69 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday night at the CFSB Center.

The contest, played on February 13, 2026, followed a predictable early script, with the high-flying Racers, now 22-3, facing a Valparaiso team that fell to 0-25. The Beacons, however, showed early fight. Led by guard Allia von Schlegell of Downers Grove, Illinois, who finished with 22 points, Valparaiso kept pace through the first half. The Beacons trailed just 38-29 at halftime, having shot efficiently in the opening quarter to stay within two points.

The defining, and most important, stretch of the game arrived immediately after the break. Murray State erupted for 40 points in the third quarter, a staggering offensive display that buried the visitors. The Racers shot a blistering percentage from the field during the period, connecting on a series of three-pointers and easy baskets in transition fueled by their defense.

The backcourt duo of Haven Ford and Halli Poock orchestrated the onslaught. Ford, a 5-foot-6 guard from Morehead, Kentucky, scored 25 points and dished out seven assists, controlling the tempo and finding open teammates. Poock, a 5-6 guard from Waterloo, Iowa, was even more prolific, pouring in a game-high 26 points to go with six assists. Their combined 51 points and 13 assists overwhelmed Valparaiso’s defense.

Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, a 6-2 forward from Jackson, Tennessee, anchored the interior with 15 points and three blocked shots, while Keslyn Secrist of Draper, Virginia, added 15 points. Valparaiso received 13 points from Fiona Connolly of South Burlington, Vermont, and seven points apiece from Kayla Preston of Omaha, Nebraska, and Kamryn Winch of Bonne Terre, Missouri, but could not sustain any momentum after halftime.

The Racers’ third-quarter explosion turned a single-digit lead into an insurmountable 78-47 advantage entering the final period, allowing both teams to liberally substitute down the stretch. The victory was Murray State’s third straight and kept them near the top of the conference standings.

Valparaiso, which has now lost 25 consecutive games dating back to the previous season, continues to search for its first win. The Beacons will travel to face Belmont on Sunday. Murray State, meanwhile, remains at home to host Illinois-Chicago on Sunday as they continue a pursuit of a conference title and postseason berth.