Murray State, Belmont Tested in Opening Statement Showcase

Missouri Valley Battles Through 0-4 Weekend

The inaugural Opening Statement tipped off this weekend, bringing top teams from across the Atlantic 10, Ivy League, American Athletic and Missouri Valley conferences together for a two-game showcase hosted by Belmont and Richmond.

The two-year scheduling alliance intends to create competitive nonconference matchups for mid-major schools across the country.

The Belmont Bruins and Murray State Racers were selected to represent the Missouri Valley Conference as two of the top-performing women’s basketball programs.

While neither team walked away with a victory, the showcase featured several competitive matchups and provided valuable experience early in the season.

(RV) Rice 69, Murray State 64

Friday — Despite shooting just 33.3% from the field and going 5-for-34 from beyond the arc, the Racers stayed within striking distance until the final buzzer.

Rice held a six-point advantage at the half but extended its lead to 16 after outscoring the Racers 22-12 in the third quarter.

Murray State responded with 27 points in the final frame, trimming the deficit to four with 43 seconds remaining. However, the Owls held on at the free-throw line to secure the 69-64 victory.

Sharnecce Currie-Jelks picked up her first double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field and 8-for-8 from the stripe.

Haven Ford followed with 17 points, eight rebounds and two assists of her own. 

Halli Poock struggled to find her rhythm, finishing with just seven points on 2-of-15 shooting, including 1-of-11 from beyond the arc.

South Florida 69, Belmont 66

Friday — Belmont’s opening matchup against South Florida came down to the wire, but a three-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining lifted the Bulls to a 69-66 victory.

After trailing 34-18 at the half, the Bruins responded with two 9-0 runs in the third quarter to close the gap to nine points. 

A pair of treys from Kenley McCarn and KK Brodie, along with free throws from Quinn Eubank, brought Belmont within one possession in the final minute. 

Kate McGinnis connected on a deep three to tie the game, but the Bulls had the last word with an and-1 layup to seal the 69-66 win.

McGinnis recorded a career-high 18 points, shooting 6-for-8 from beyond the arc. McCarn added 18 points and four assists, scoring 16 in the second half alone.

Chelby Jordan added 12 points, while Eubank collected nine rebounds and three blocks. 

Princeton 76, Murray State 74

Sunday — Murray State returned to action against Princeton in Richmond, Virginia, for another closely contested matchup. 

The game featured nine lead changes and six ties across four quarters.

The Racers held a 39-36 halftime advantage and maintained their three-point lead after the third quarter. 

However, the Tigers mounted a late run to tie the game with just over a minute remaining. With a pair of late free throws, Princeton held on for a 76-74 victory.

Poock returned to form with 29 points and three assists. Currie-Jelks contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Ford added nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

Murray State outscored Princeton 19-4 in bench points.

Columbia 84, Belmont 64

Sunday — Belmont closed out the weekend in a first-time matchup against the Columbia Lions. 

Jordan recorded her first career 20-point game, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, and added five assists and five rebounds. 

McGinnis followed with 15 points, including four triples, while McCarn contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Bruins opened the first quarter with a 19-18 lead, fueled by efficient shooting from Jordan and McGinnis. 

However, the Lions quickly caught fire on the offensive end, sinking seven threes to gain a 42-31 halftime advantage.

The Bruins struggled to chip away at the deficit as Columbia shot 68.8% from the field in the final frame. 

The Lions pulled away with a 17-5 run to secure the 84-64 victory.