A Trio of Racers Score 20-Plus in Loss to Belmont

Saturday, February 4

CFSB Center

6 p.m.

Murray State

12-11 (4-6OVC)

Belmont

19-5 (11-0OVC)

Belmont

Murray State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/4/2017 8:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Despite having three players score 20 points or more Saturday against Belmont, it was not enough as the Murray State women fell to the Bruins, 87-69 at the CFSB Center. It marked the eighth time this season that two or more Racers have scored 20 points or more in the same game.

The loss was the first time this season that MSU (12-11, 4-6 OVC) has lost when it has had a pair score 20 or more. Bria Bethea poured in a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers. Bethea was extremely efficient as she went 8-of-11 from the floor and 6-for-8 from 3-point range. Ke'Shunan James and LeAsia Wright each added 20 on the night with James grabbing five rebounds, collecting five assists and both players recorded a pair of steals. The trio accounted for nearly 96 percent of the team's scoring on Saturday.

The big difference in the game came on the glass as the Bruins (19-5, 11-0 OVC) outrebounded the Racers 47-18 and held a 30-0 advantage on second-chance points in the game. Belmont also outscored the Racers 44-18 in the paint. Belmont grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and the 18 boards for the Racers was a season low.

As a team, MSU shot nearly 43 percent overall and went 12-of-22 (54.5 percent) from 3-point range. The Bruins, however shot nearly 55 percent from the floor and also went 10-of-24 from beyond the arc. Belmont led from start to finish and carried a 50-43 lead into halftime before lengthening its lead to 68-56 after three.

Next up, it's a quick turnaround for the Racers as they host Eastern Kentucky Monday at 6 p.m., at the CFSB Center. It comes in the middle of MSU's three-game homestand.