MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — Murray State dominated Belmont from the start en route to a 69-48 women’s basketball victory Sunday at CFSB Center. The Racers (17-2) opened a 26-14 lead after the first quarter and never relented, holding the Bruins to 10 points in the third quarter. Hilary Fuller led Belmont (11-8) with 22 points. Murray State’s balance proved overwhelming as Halli Poock scored 22 points, and Sharnecce Currie-Jelks added 12 points and 15 rebounds. Haven Ford contributed 13 points and eight rebounds for the Racers. Attendance was 2,101. The teams meet again Jan. 31 in Nashville.

MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — The Murray State Racers, riding a dominant first quarter and a stifling defensive performance, overwhelmed the Belmont Bruins 69-48 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at CFSB Center. A crowd of 2,101 watched the Racers (17-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley) seize control from the opening tip, building a 26-14 lead after the first 10 minutes and never looking back. The Bruins (11-8, 4-2) struggled offensively all afternoon, failing to connect on any of their 10 attempts from three-point range and committing 14 turnovers that the Racers converted into 21 points. The most critical phase of the contest was unquestionably the opening quarter. Murray State established its tempo and defensive intensity immediately, forcing Belmont into difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks, a 6-foot-2 forward from Jackson, Tennessee, set the tone with an early jump shot and a layup, while guard Halli Poock of Waterloo, Iowa, knocked down a three-pointer to fuel the initial surge. The Racers shot efficiently in the period and closed the quarter on a 6-0 run, capped by a Haven Ford jumper just before the buzzer, to establish a double-digit cushion that Belmont would never seriously threaten. Belmont’s offense, which entered the game on a five-game winning streak, was rendered ineffective. While Hilary Fuller, a 6-2 forward from Brisbane, Australia, managed a game-high 22 points for the Bruins, she received little consistent support. The team’s offensive rating of 66.9 points per 100 possessions underscored a afternoon of frustration. Murray State’s defense, particularly its perimeter pressure, contested every pass and shot, holding Belmont to 35.6% shooting from the field. Murray State’s victory was a balanced effort. Poock matched Fuller with 22 points of her own, including three three-pointers. Currie-Jelks was a force on the glass, compiling a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Ford, a 5-6 guard from Morehead, Kentucky, added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Keslyn Secrist of Draper, Virginia, contributed 12 points and six boards. The Racers also dominated the interior battle, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds to Belmont’s six, which led to 13 second-chance points. Despite shooting only 33.8% from the field themselves, Murray State’s advantages in rebounding, free throw shooting (13 of 16), and points off turnovers proved decisive. For Belmont, Sanaa Tripp of Covington, Georgia, was the only other player in double figures with 10 points. Tuti Jones, from Troy, Alabama, pulled down nine rebounds but was limited to just two points. The Bruins, who had been averaging over 75 points per game during their recent win streak, were held to a season-low output, well below their previous low of 56 points. The win solidifies Murray State’s position near the top of the conference standings and extends their home court advantage. Belmont, meanwhile, will look to regroup before hosting Southern Illinois next Saturday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Nashville on Jan. 31.

Preview: Belmont Bruins at Murray State Racers (Women’s Basketball) MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — A surging Belmont team will face its toughest Ohio Valley Conference test of the season Sunday when the Bruins visit the powerhouse Murray State Racers at the CFSB Center. The matchup pits two of the league’s hottest teams. Belmont (11-7 overall) enters on a six-game winning streak, its last loss coming to then-Duke on Dec. 20. Murray State (16-2) boasts an even more impressive run, having won 11 consecutive games, with its last defeat on Nov. 25. The Racers’ dominance has been fueled by high-octane offense, scoring 90 or more points in four of their last six contests. Guard Halli Poock is the catalyst, averaging 25.7 points and 5.7 assists over her last seven games. She dropped 34 points in a double-overtime win over Illinois State on Jan. 2 and 30 against Northern Iowa on Jan. 9. Belmont counters with its own dynamic guard in Tuti Jones, who is coming off a 22-point, 7-assist performance in an 85-77 road win at Indiana State on Thursday. During the Bruins’ six-game streak, Jones has averaged 12.4 points and 4.7 assists, facilitating a balanced attack. Murray State’s only home loss this season was to then-Stanford in November. The Racers have since been nearly unstoppable at the CFSB Center, including a 95-67 rout of Drake last Sunday. The Bruins will need another efficient performance to keep pace. In their current streak, they have held opponents to an average of 66.8 points per game. Containing Poock and the Racers’ transition game, which averages over 87 points during their win streak, will be the primary challenge. Sunday’s contest is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Nashville on Jan. 31. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.