CORALVILLE, Iowa – Tierney Kelsey tied the Indiana State single-game scoring record with 46 points Friday afternoon, as the Sycamores bowed out of the MVC Tournament in a 105-88 defeat to regular season champion Murray State.
 
Kelsey's performance matched program legend Melanie Boeglin's record, which had stood alone for 20 years. The sophomore guard posted the third-highest scoring game in MVC Tournament history and the third-highest scoring performance in a Division I game this season.
 
Indiana State went back-and-forth with the regular season champions in the opening quarter, before Murray State took command in the second. The Racers built a large halftime lead by outscoring the Blue and White 31-13 in the second, but the Sycamores never backed down. Indiana State outscored Murray State 58-50 across the final 20 minutes of action, with Kelsey scoring 35 in the second half, but a valiant effort wasn't enough to send the Sycamores to the semifinals.
 
First Half
Kennedy Claybrooks opened the Sycamores' scoring with a layup, and Kelsey got her record-setting afternoon started with a jumper to keep pace with Murray State early on. Baskets from Flowers and Kelsey kept the Trees within a pair midway through the opening frame, with Kelsey adding another basket to keep the Sycamores on even footing. Kelsey tacked on a three-ball to keep it a one-possession game late in the period, but a 5-0 run from Murray State to close the quarter had Indiana State down 24-19 after the first.
 
Baskets from Claybrooks and Flowers kept the Sycamores within seven early in the second quarter, before things spiraled for the Blue and White. Murray State went on a 7-0 run spanning less than 90 seconds to push its lead to double-digits, before free throws from Kelsey and Clemisha Prackett momentarily halted the Racers' momentum. Samiyah Briggs added a transition layup for the Trees, but Murray State closed the half on a 15-2 run and led 55-30 at the intermission.
 
Second Half
Indiana State shook off its poor second quarter, with Flowers and Kelsey going to work early to cut into the Sycamore deficit. Kelsey scored six straight for the Sycamores, including a three-point play, to give the Blue and White some momentum, while Prackett tacked on five points, including an and-one, midway through the third. Jayci Allen and Prackett tacked on to the Sycamores' tally late in the frame, while Kelsey scored the Sycamores' last eight points in the period, including a trey and a three-point play, but Murray State maintained an 81-60 lead entering the fourth.
 
Kelsey and Flowers opened the fourth with layups, with the former tacking on a jumper to cut the Racer lead down to 20. Allen added a basket of her own, before Murray State went on a 7-0 run to extend its lead back out to 95-68. Layups from Flowers and Kelsey midway through showed that the Sycamores weren't quitting despite their deficit, with Kelsey catching fire down the stretch. The sophomore guard knocked down a three and tacked on another three-point play, while also dishing out an assist on a layup from Allen. Kelsey scored seven of Indiana State's last nine points, tying the program single-game scoring record in the closing moments, but it was Murray State advancing to the semifinals in a 105-88 defeat for the Sycamores.
 
News and Notes: 

• Tierney Kelsey's 46 points tied the Indiana State single-game record, are No. 3 in an NCAA Division I game this season and are No. 3 in in Valley Tournament single-game history (only Jackie Stiles had more in a game—56 3/10/2000 vs. Evansville and 47 against Drake 3/10/2001).
• Kelsey's 13 free throws made and 15 attempted both tied for third in MVC Tournament history. Her 15 field goals made are tied for No. 4 in MVC Tournament history.
• Kelsey also pulled down a season-high seven rebounds in Friday's game. She led the Sycamores in points (46), rebounds (seven) and assists (four) in the quarterfinal matchup.
• The Sycamores' 30-point third quarter featured 18 by Kelsey and was Indiana State's fourth 30-point quarter of the year. Kelsey also added 17 in the fourth, with 35 of her program-record 46 points coming in the second half.
• The 193 points scored in Friday's game were a Valley tournament record for two teams in a game - previous was 186 by Murray State (96) vs. Drake (90) in last year's tournament.
• Amerie Flowers was an efficient 7-for-9 from the field in posting her second straight tournament game in double-figures, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds.
• Indiana State's 32 fouls were a Valley Tournament single-game record. Murray State's 33 free throws made and 43 free throws attempted were both MVC Tournament records.
• Indiana State closed its season at 10-22 overall and 5-15 in conference play. The Sycamores more than doubled their overall (four) and conference (two) win totals from the 2024-25 campaign.
• Da'Naria Washington, Kennedy Claybrooks and Kayla Smith closed out their collegiate careers by drawing the starting nod for the Sycamores, with Samiyah Briggs also coming off the bench in her final collegiate game.

 
Up Next
Indiana State's season ends at 10-22. The Sycamores more than doubled their overall and conference win totals from the 2024-25 campaign.

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