Nonconference Begins: Key Performers From Season Openers

Four Wins, Seven Losses Across the Valley

All 11 Missouri Valley women’s basketball teams hit the court this week for their first nonconference games of the season. 

Four teams opened with victories, while the remaining seven came up short.

From standout freshmen to returning stars, several players delivered notable performances in their season debuts.

Murray State 82, Southern Indiana 67 

On Monday, Nov. 2, Murray State clenched an 82-67 road win over Southern Indiana. 

The Racers established an early advantage, outscoring Southern Indiana 22-10 in the opening quarter. They also added 28 points in the third to maintain control of the game.

Reigning MVC Player of the Year Halli Poock dropped 33 points, the most by a Racer in a season opener since at least 2003. She also tied her career high with seven 3-pointers and dished six assists.

Haven Ford and Nebraska transfer Claire Johnson added 10 points apiece, while Sharnecce Currie-Jelks finished with nine points and nine rebounds.

UNI 67, St. Thomas 59

Northern Iowa also claimed a win over St. Thomas, 67-59, at home. 

After trailing by one point at the end of the first quarter, Northern Iowa outscored St. Thomas in each of the remaining three periods. The Panthers built a seven-point lead entering the fourth and held off a late push from the Tommies.

Sophomore guard Abby Tuttle led the Panthers with 16 points, four assists and three steals.

Illinois State 106, Chicago State 69

Illinois State racked 106 points in its win against Chicago State, with five players finishing in double figures.

Illinois State established a 21-point halftime lead before erupting for 34 points in the third quarter.

Nevaeh Thomas led the Redbirds with 23 points and eight rebounds in her first game back from injury. Junior guard Grace Nelson came off the bench to drop 21, including five three-pointers, in 18 minutes of action.

Freshmen Danyella Mporokoso and Kennedy Stowers also recorded double digits in their collegiate debuts. Mporokoso finished with 16 points and five assists, while Stowers notched 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

Illinois State also claimed their second victory of the season on Wednesday, beating Dayton 91-87.

Drake 76, Eastern Illinois 54

The final team to open with a win was Drake, who defeated Eastern Illinois, 76-54, on Tuesday. 

After a 10-10 tie in the first quarter, Drake outscored Eastern Illinois 29-10 in the second to take control. The Bulldogs dominated the boards, collecting 48 rebounds and converting 21 offensive rebounds into 24 second-chance points. The victory marked Drake’s 12th consecutive season-opening win.

Sophomore forward Quinn Vice led the Bulldogs with 16 points and three assists, while returning standout Anna Becker added 14 points. 

Redshirt freshman Mylea Monahan made her post-injury debut and dished five assists in 25 minutes on the court.

Belmont 52, Princeton 63

The Belmont Bruins lost a tough opener at Princeton, 52-63. 

Belmont battled back from a seven-point deficit in the third quarter to tie the game at 39 entering the fourth. However, Princeton outscored the Bruins 24-13 in the final period, including 14 points from the free-throw line, to secure the victory.

UT Martin transfer Kenley McCarn contributed 15 points, and Chelby Jordan filled the stat sheet in her freshman debut, with 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, four steals and one block.

Indiana State 71, Northern Illinois 76

Indiana State narrowly fell to Northern Illinois, 76-71, despite a late comeback attempt.

The Sycamores overcame a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit and took their first lead with less than two minutes remaining. However, the Huskies responded with a 9-2 run in the final 1:42 to secure the victory.

Junior college transfer Saroiya Ajomale led the Sycamores with 17 points, and Chicago State transfer Natalia Williams contributed 16.

Junior Amerie Flowers, one of only two returners on the team, controlled the glass with nine rebounds.

Southern Illinois 70, Illinois Springfield 75

Southern Illinois also lost a close match with Illinois Springfield, falling 70-75.

The contest featured seven lead changes and eight ties. After entering the fourth quarter tied at 54, the Prairie Stars pulled ahead to secure the win.

Junior Kynnedi Davis led the charge with 14 points, while DePaul transfer Shakara McCline added 13 with four steals. 

Kayla Cooper showcased her versatility by racking 9 points, six assists and 11 rebounds from the guard position.

Bradley 65, Wisconsin 71

Bradley fell short to Wisconsin, 65-71, in a late-game thriller. 

The Braves rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the score with less than a minute remaining. However, the Badgers ultimately pulled away to seal a six-point lead.

Inia Jones made her debut with the Braves, scoring 13 points after sitting out two seasons due to injuries.

Returning forward Ellie McDermid notched a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. 

Junior point guard Mya Wardle also contributed in multiple areas, finishing with 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. 

Valparaiso 44, Michigan State 98

Denza Allen made an immediate impact as a redshirt freshman for Valparaiso. In a 44-98 loss to Michigan State, she added six points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a game-high of three blocks.

The Spartans forced 30 turnovers and collected 20 steals, limiting Valparaiso to 26.7% shooting from the field.

Evansville 65, DePaul 90

The Purple Aces fell to DePaul, 65-90, on the road. 

Evansville opened strong, taking a 23-17 lead after the first quarter. However, DePaul responded and outscored the Purple Aces 53-32 in the second half to pull away.

Returning forward Mireia Mustaros recorded 15 points and four assists, while Louisiana transfer Marina Artero tallied five assists and five rebounds. 

UIC 34, Ohio State 81

UIC opened at No. 18 Ohio State but came up short, 34-81. 

The Flames kept pace early, tying Ohio State at seven before the Buckeyes closed the first quarter on a 20-0 run.

Redshirt junior Julia Coleman led the Flames with 10 points and secured four rebounds. Starting point guard TuTu Clayton added six points, five rebounds and two steals.