PEORIA, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Murray State team riding a nine-game winning streak will face a tough road test Friday night when the 23-3 Racers visit Carver Arena to take on the Bradley Braves. The matchup, set for Feb. 20, 2026, pits two of the Missouri Valley Conference’s top women’s basketball programs against each other in a late-season clash with potential conference tournament implications. Murray State (23-3) sits atop the league standings, while Bradley (18-8) looks to bolster its resume and avenge a double-overtime loss from earlier this season. The Racers won a thrilling 93-82 double-overtime contest when these teams met on Jan. 4 in Murray. Since that game, Murray State has continued its dominant run, most recently edging Illinois-Chicago 79-77 on Sunday behind another stellar performance from guard Halli Poock. Poock, the conference’s leading scorer, is averaging 26.1 points per game over her last seven contests. She dropped 33 points with four rebounds and four assists in the win over UIC, following a 26-point, six-assist outing against Valparaiso. Her offensive firepower will be the primary focus for the Braves’ defense. Bradley enters on a four-game win streak of its own, having grinded out a 56-53 road victory at Southern Illinois on Sunday. The Braves are anchored by forward Amy O’Hara, who nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds in that contest. Bradley’s strength lies in its balanced attack and defensive tenacity, holding opponents to an average of 58.6 points during its current streak. The Braves will need that defensive discipline to slow down a potent Murray State offense that has scored 78 or more points in eight of its last nine games. Conversely, the Racers must contend with the physicality and home-court advantage at Carver Arena, where Bradley is 11-2 this season. Friday’s contest promises to be a compelling battle between one of the nation’s most efficient offenses and a resilient home squad capable of pulling an upset. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.