Scouting Murray State, Iowa's foe in NCAA women's Tournament

WILMINGTON GAME. OH OH, GET IT, GET IT. THEY’RE PUMPED. THE CYCLONE WOMEN ARE FACING OFF AGAINST PRINCETON IN THE FIRST FOUR WEDNESDAY AT SIX IN NOTRE DAME. THE FIRST FOUR FEATURES FOUR PLAY IN GAMES. THE WINNERS ADVANCE TO THE FIRST ROUND. THE CYCLONES HAVE NOW MADE THE LAST SIX NCAA TOURNAMENTS. THAT’S TIED FOR THE 14TH LONGEST STREAK IN THE COUNTRY. THE NETWORK THAT WILL CARRY THE GAME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. NOW, THE IOWA HAWKEYE WOMEN ARE A SIX SEED. THEY’RE GOING TO TRAVEL TO NORMAN TO FACE 11 SEED MURRAY STATE IN THE FIRST ROUND. THAT’S THEM FINDING OUT THE GOOD NEWS THAT GAME TIPS OFF ON SATURDAY AT 11 IN THE MORNING. THE HAWKEYES HAVE MADE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE NCAA TOURNAMENTS AND HAVE BEEN A SIX SEED OR BETTER IN NINE STRAIGHT TOURNAMENTS. AND WHO CAN FORGET THE CHAMPIONSHIP LAST YEAR? HEY, IF IOWA WINS, THEY WOULD FACE THE WINNER OF THREE SEED

Murray State women’s basketball: What to know about Iowa’s NCAA Tournament opponent

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Updated: 11:22 AM CDT Mar 20, 2025

The Hawkeyes are heading to Oklahoma for the weekend.Iowa was named a No. 6 seed in this year’s women’s NCAA Tournament. Coach Jan Jensen’s inaugural team will take on No. 11 Murray State in the first round, potentially setting up a second-round game vs. former Iowa star Jennie (Lillis) Baranczyk.Here’s what to know about Murray State.Murray State women’s basketball: Record, stats and moreLocation: Murray, KentuckyRecord: 25-7Conference: Missouri Valley Conference (16-4; first place)NCAA Tournament history: The Racers are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance. The other trip to the Big Dance came back in 2008, when Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference and earned a No. 14 seed. Duke defeated Murray State in the first round, 78-57.The Racers are aptly named. Murray State plays fast and leads the nation in scoring (87.8 points per game). Its defense allows 72.1 points per game, which is 328th -best in the country out of 362 Division I teams.In other words, expect a lot of points.Murray State is not shy about letting it fly, averaging 10.2 made 3-pointers per game (second most in the nation).Murray State players to watchHalli Poock may be a familiar name for Hawkeye fans.Poock is a Waterloo native who starred in high school at Waterloo West. She was a fixture at the state tournament, leading Waterloo West to Wells Fargo Arena four years in a row. Poock scored 20 or more points in the state quarterfinals all four years and led the team to an appearance in the state championship game as a junior.Poock hasn’t slowed down much at the college level. She began her collegiate career last year at Bradley, averaging 14.9 points per game as a freshman. She transferred to Murray State for her sophomore season and is putting up 17.1 points per game to go with 4.4 assists.Poock is one of four Murray State players averaging 10 or more points, alongside forward Katelyn Young (22.2 points, 6.4 rebounds), Haven Ford (15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists) and Ava Learn (13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds).Young, a 6-foot-1 forward, is a career 3,000-point scorer in her five years at Murray State and led the conference in scoring three times.Iowa vs. Murray State: Tickets to the women’s NCAA Tournament in Norman, Oklahoma Tickets are available for the first-round games here. » Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

NORMAN, Okla. —The Hawkeyes are heading to Oklahoma for the weekend.

Iowa was named a No. 6 seed in this year’s women’s NCAA Tournament. Coach Jan Jensen’s inaugural team will take on No. 11 Murray State in the first round, potentially setting up a second-round game vs. former Iowa star Jennie (Lillis) Baranczyk.

Here’s what to know about Murray State.

Murray State women’s basketball: Record, stats and more

Location: Murray, Kentucky
Record: 25-7
Conference: Missouri Valley Conference (16-4; first place)

NCAA Tournament history: The Racers are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance. The other trip to the Big Dance came back in 2008, when Murray State won the Ohio Valley Conference and earned a No. 14 seed. Duke defeated Murray State in the first round, 78-57.

The Racers are aptly named. Murray State plays fast and leads the nation in scoring (87.8 points per game). Its defense allows 72.1 points per game, which is 328th -best in the country out of 362 Division I teams.

In other words, expect a lot of points.

Murray State is not shy about letting it fly, averaging 10.2 made 3-pointers per game (second most in the nation).

Murray State players to watch

Halli Poock may be a familiar name for Hawkeye fans.

Poock is a Waterloo native who starred in high school at Waterloo West. She was a fixture at the state tournament, leading Waterloo West to Wells Fargo Arena four years in a row. Poock scored 20 or more points in the state quarterfinals all four years and led the team to an appearance in the state championship game as a junior.

Poock hasn’t slowed down much at the college level. She began her collegiate career last year at Bradley, averaging 14.9 points per game as a freshman. She transferred to Murray State for her sophomore season and is putting up 17.1 points per game to go with 4.4 assists.

Poock is one of four Murray State players averaging 10 or more points, alongside forward Katelyn Young (22.2 points, 6.4 rebounds), Haven Ford (15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists) and Ava Learn (13.9 points, 9.7 rebounds).

Young, a 6-foot-1 forward, is a career 3,000-point scorer in her five years at Murray State and led the conference in scoring three times.