Though it was Senior Day, the Murray State women’s basketball team had a game to win, as they chase a Missouri Valley Conference title.
It was a slow start for the Racers, only putting up 16 points in the first quarter. This was something Head Coach Rechelle Turner was anticipating due to the emotional nature of the afternoon.
“We had no doubt that it was gonna be emotional,” Turner said during the postgame interview. “They knew we had to be locked in and focused, but I also knew that it was gonna take us a little bit of time to settle in.”
Despite a 27 point lead at halftime, Murray State’s normally fast paced offense was not on display. But after a second half push which saw a 40% three point percentage from the Racers, the team bested the Salukis 87-64.
Sophomore Hallie Poock led the Racers with 23 points on 9-13 shooting. Senior Katelyn Young finished with 19 points, as well as 6 rebounds. Twelve of Young’s points came from the three-point arc. Along with Poock and Young, three other Racers scored in the double-digits.
This brings the team to 14-4 in conference play with a 20-7 overall record. The team is tied with Missouri State and Drake for first place in the MVC. The Racers will finish the season out with two road games, one at Evansville on March 6 and the other at Indiana State on March 8.
Before and after the game the Racers honored the four seniors on the team: Jenna Walker, Ava Learn, Trinity White and Katelyn Young. During pregame honors, Young’s number was retired and hung in the rafters of the CFSB Center, memorializing her extraordinary college basketball career. All four seniors dedicated their heart and soul to the women’s basketball team. Here’s a look back at their time playing for Murray State:
Ava Learn
Ava Learn came to Murray from the power 5 school of Purdue University where she played in 52 games. She transferred to Murray for the 2023-24 season. While here at Murray, Learn has been studying marketing and hospitality and tourism. She is from Pleasant Valley, New York, where she grew up with her parents and two sisters. (photo from Sep. 29, 2023) 
During her time at Murray, Learn has played in 57 games, averaging 11.2 points per game. In her first season with the Racers, Learn was named to the MVC All-Newcomer Team. (photo from Nov. 14, 2023) 
Learn interacts with a young fan after the annual Education Day game. (Nov. 14, 2023) 
Learn shows off her personality by goofing around with teammate Destiny Thomas during pre-game warm-up. (Dec. 14, 2023) 
Learn goes up against a Little Rock player to put up a shot. (Dec. 14, 2023) 
Learn cheers on the team from the sidelines with Graduate Assistant Coach Kayla Mitchell, and fellow seniors Katelyn Young and Jenna Walker. (March 3, 2024) 
Learn dribbles the ball down the court. (Jan. 28, 2024) 
Learn goes for a layup. (Jan. 28, 2024) 
Learn smiles during pre-game warm-up. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
Learn fights for possession of the ball. (March 3, 2024) 
Learn gets set to defend an incoming pass from the opposing team. (March 1) 
Learn watches the senior video with her teammates Adriana Blazquez, Adalyn Koelling and Grace Billington. (March 1) 
Jenna Walker
Jenna Walker came to Murray in her sophomore year after one season at Western Kentucky University. During her time at Murray, she has been studying to become a middle school math teacher. Walker is from Priceville, AL where she lived with her parents and her brother. (photo from Dec. 3, 2022) 
During her time at Murray, Walker played a total of 34 games. In her junior season, she shot 43.5 percent from the three-point arc. Unfortunately her playing career was cut short due to injury, but she has still made an impact on the team, being the biggest cheerleader for her teammates. (photo from Sep. 29, 2023) 
Walker dribbles the ball down the court. (Nov. 14, 2023) 
Walker poses for a photo with teammate Katelyn Young and a group of students who attended the annual education day game. (Nov. 14, 2023) 
Walkers walks from the locker room to the court at an away game versus Austin Peay State University. (Dec. 9, 2023) 
Walker warms up before a game. (Dec. 9, 2023) 
Walker walks off the court at halftime with Assistant Coach Monica Evans. (Jan. 28, 2024) 
Walker smiles while she warms up pre-game. (Dec. 14, 2023) 
Walker chest bumps teammate Destiny Thomas in celebration. (Feb. 15, 2024) 
Walker holds up three fingers to indicate a made three-point shot while warming up pre-game.(Feb. 17, 2024) 
Walker cheers from the sidelines. (March 3, 2024) 
Walker watches the senior video with teammates Braxcynn Baker, Trinity white, Briley Pena, Haven Ford and Halli Poock. (March 1) 
Trinity White
Trinity White transferred to Murray State from Butler University where she played in 42 games. She transferred to Murray State in 2023-24 and is majoring in health and exercise science. White was born in Arkansas but grew up in McKinney, TX. (photo from Sep. 29, 2023) 
During her time at Murray, White has played in 57 games. This season, White had four steals in one game when the Racers played Evansville earlier this year. (photo from March 1) 
White signs a poster for a young fan at the annual education day game. (Nov. 14, 2023) 
White smiles with her teammates Haven Ford and Cayson Connor during a stoppage of play. (Dec. 14, 2023) 
White warms up her shot during pre-game. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
White goes up for a layup against a UNI defender. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
White looks for someone to pass the ball to. (March 3, 2024) 
White drives around a UNI defender towards the hoop. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
White puts up a three-point shot. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
White talks with teammate Briley Pena on the court while waiting for play to resume. (Feb. 15) 
White puts up a shot. (March 1) 
White maneuvers around a SIU defender. (March 1) 
Katelyn Young
Katelyn Young has been a Murray State Racer for her entire college career. This is her fifth year with the team, as she decided to attend graduate school. Young grew up in Oakwood, IL with her parents and two brothers. (photo from Dec. 13, 2022) 
Young had an amazing career, becoming the programs all-time leading scorer in the history of the program. Throughout her time at Murray, she has been named to the All-OVC First Team twice and the All-OVC Newcomer Team when the team was still in the Ohio Valley and was named to the All-MVC First Team since the Racers switched to the conference. During her career she scored 2000 points and 1000 rebounds, becoming just the second Murray State student-athlete to do so. Recently, Young became the 21st player in Division I history to reach 2900 points. (photo from Dec. 3, 2022) 
Young talks with reporters about the upcoming season before the 1st official practice of the 23-24 season. (Sep. 29, 2023) 
Young runs onto the court during lineup announcements at an away game versus Austin Peay. (Dec. 9, 2023) 
Young cheers on the team from the bench with fellow teammates Jenna Walker and Destiny Thomas. (Dec. 14, 2023) 
Young warms up pre-game. (Feb. 17, 2024) 
Young drives past an Indiana State defender. (March 3, 2024) 
Young chest bumps teammate Adalyn Koelling during pre-game warm-up. (Feb. 13) 
Young puts up a three-point shot. (Feb. 15) 
Young was surprised by the retirement of her jersey number. A banner was hung in the rafters of the CFSB Center to honor Young and her extraordinary accomplishments. (March 1; photo provided by Kristopher Fister) 
Young reacts to her number being retired. She stands, hugging Coach Turner, both very emotional after the banner was unraveled. (March 1; photo provided by Kristopher Fister) 
Young goes up for a shot in the second half of the game against SIU. (March 1) 
