(MURRAY, Ky.) — Murray State’s women’s basketball team continued its remarkable season Sunday, defeating Belmont 69-48 at the CFSB Center to maintain a perfect conference record and extend the program’s longest winning streak to 14 games.
Halli Poock paced the Racers with 22 points, connecting on eight of 18 field goal attempts and draining three shots from long range. Her offensive output marked the seventh consecutive Missouri Valley Conference game in which she has scored at least 19 points, pushing her conference average to 26.1 points per game.
The Racers seized control early, establishing a 26-14 advantage after the first quarter and carrying a commanding 45-26 cushion into the break. Sharnecce Currie-Jelks dominated the interior, recording her nation-leading 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and 15 rebounds. The senior forward remains the only player in Division I women’s basketball averaging at least 15 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Murray State’s suffocating defensive effort proved equally impressive, limiting Belmont to just 35.6 percent shooting from the floor. Most notably, the Racers completely shut down the Bruins from three-point territory, marking the first time since 2014 that Belmont failed to make a single shot from beyond the arc. The home team also forced 14 turnovers and converted those mistakes into 21 points.
Haven Ford and Keslyn Secrist provided additional offensive support, contributing 13 and 12 points respectively. Ford also grabbed eight rebounds while Secrist pulled down six. Hilary Fuller led Belmont’s effort with 22 points in the losing cause.
The victory improved Murray State to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in conference play, giving the Racers sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Belmont fell to 11-8 and 7-1 in league action. Murray State’s 14-game winning streak now ranks as the fourth-longest active streak in the nation, underscoring the program’s dominance during this historic campaign.
The Racers’ balanced attack features four players averaging double figures in scoring, with Poock, Currie-Jelks, Ford and Secrist all contributing at least 12.4 points per game.
PHOTO COURTESY-PROFESSOR DAVID EATON
