Bruins Top Murray State in High-Scoring, 96-89 MVC Matchup at the Curb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a game fitting of the first of March rather than the first of February, the Belmont University women's basketball team outpaced one of the top offenses in the nation in a thrilling 96-89 victory over Murray State inside the Curb Event Center late Saturday afternoon. The combined 185 points scored between the two teams ties for the third-highest scoring women's game in Curb arena history.
 
Improving to a league-best 9-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Bruins (14-7) won their eighth in a row. Behind a season-high 56.1 percent (32-of-57) shooting performance, a season-best 16 made three-pointers and three 20-point scorers, Belmont outdid the Racers' high-octane offense which averages 88.8 points per game.
 
For the third-straight game, the Bruins assisted on over 20 of their baskets with 21 assists. The trio of graduate guard Tuti Jones, senior forward Kendal Cheesman and graduate guard Kendall Holmes were phenomenal, each surpassing 20 points and combining for 14 of Belmont's 16 threes.
 
Neither team led by more than nine points and the Bruins faced a one-point deficit heading into the final quarter of play. Belmont got key contributions throughout its roster and put together a remarkable 61-point second half, which is the most points scored in a half in the Bruins' NCAA era.
 
Outscoring Murray State (14-5, 8-2 MVC) 61-47 in the second half, Belmont shot a blistering 63.3 percent (19-of-30) from the field across the last 20 minutes of action and was a ridiculous 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) from behind the arc. The Bruins scored a season-high 33 points in the third quarter before outpacing the Racers 28-20 in the final stanza.
 
Recording her first double-double of the season and third double-double of her career, Jones matched her career high with 29 points on 10-for-15 shooting and secured a season-best 10 rebounds. She went 4-for-7 from deep and accounted for a pair of steals and four assists as well.
 
Cheesman tallied a season-high 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting as she knocked down six of her nine three-point attempts and snagged six rebounds to go along with four assists.
 
Holmes also went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and finished with a season-high 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
 
Belmont overcame Murray State star forward Katelyn Young's 39 points on 15-for-20 shooting, which set the women's single-game Curb Event Center record, and held the Racers to 22.6 percent (7-of-31) from distance.

"????????'?? ????????'?? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? - ?? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????????? ????'???? ??????????." - HC Bart Brooks@tutijones3 and @BartABrooks following the Bruins' victory over Murray State ??#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/cSL1LZ37KS

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) February 2, 2025

The Bruins began the game red hot and shot 64.3 percent (9-of-14) in the opening quarter, including going 6-for-9 from outside. A three from Jones six minutes in gave Belmont a 16-9 lead and the Bruins led 24-20 after one quarter.
 
Cheesman and Jones accounted for 19 of Belmont's 24 first-quarter points.
 
Murray State started out just 40 percent (8-of-20) from the field and 2-for-9 from long range.
 
After another Jones triple to open the second-quarter scoring, the Racers went on a 9-0 run and took their first lead of the afternoon at 29-27. Despite a 33-33 tie with 3:16 to go in the first half, Murray State held the Bruins without a field goal for the last three minutes as the Racers closed on a 9-2 run.
 
Murray State led 42-35 at the break after going 8-for-16 from the floor in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Belmont made only four second-quarter field goals on 30.8 percent shooting.
 
Both Jones and Cheesman scored 13 first-half points, while the Racers' Young had 24 points at the half.
 
The Bruins couldn't have planned for a better start to the second half with a Cheesman three-pointer sparking a torrid pace to the third quarter. An 8-0 run out of the locker room gave the lead back to Belmont at 43-42 only 80 seconds into the half.
 
Back-to-back deep daggers from freshman guard Sanaa Tripp capped an impressive 22-7 Bruin run over the first four-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter. Tripp's second three made it 57-49 for Belmont's largest lead of the quarter. From there, Murray State outscored the Bruins 20-8 over the next 4:46.
 
Trailing 69-65 in the last minute of the third, Belmont forced a five-second call in the waning seconds of the quarter to give the Bruins one final possession. Inbounding with five seconds left, Jones freed herself just enough to launch an extremely deep wing three that found the bottom of the net. It was her trey that ignited Belmont's fierce fourth quarter.

TUTTTTIIIIII JOOOOONEESSSS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. @tutijones3 #ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/VvqavSqlPC

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) February 1, 2025

Although the Racers led 69-68 heading into the fourth, the Bruins seemed to have the momentum following Jones' clutch shot. Belmont outscored Murray State 33-27 in the third quarter on 73.3 percent (11-of-15) shooting, including going 7-for-9 from downtown. The Racers shot 63.2 percent (12-of-19) in the quarter behind another 11 points from Young.

Holmes finished off a conventional three-point play to cap a 10-2 start for the Bruins in the fourth, pushing Belmont in front by seven at 78-71 with six-and-a-half minutes to go. However, Murray State responded with an 8-0 run as starting guard Haven Ford put the Racers up 79-78 with 4:23 remaining.
 
Jones answered but Murray State's Young converted two free throws to make it 81-80 Racers with just over three-and-a-half minutes left. Junior guard Emily La Chapell came up big on the Bruins' ensuing possession, finishing at the rim and drawing a foul to give the lead back to Belmont at 83-81 with three minutes to go.

After Murray State starting guard Halli Poock knotted up the score with a layup, Cheesman delivered a go-ahead three with 1:54 remaining and the Bruins led the rest of the way. A triple from Holmes following a pair of Racer free throws made it 89-85 with 1:21 left. Murray State's Poock missed a three-pointer on the Racers' next possession and the visitors had to play the foul game.
 
Holmes, sophomore guard Jailyn Banks and Jones knocked down seven combined free throws in the closing minute.
 
Belmont held Murray State to 30 percent (6-of-20) shooting in the fourth quarter and the Racers were 2-for-10 from deep. The Bruins shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) across the last 10 minutes of play.
 
Jones and Holmes both scored 16 points in the second half as each went 5-for-6 from the floor.
 
Murray State outscored Belmont 48-24 in the paint and earned 21 points off 15 offensive rebounds.
 
The Racers got 17 points and eight boards from starting forward Ava Learn, while Ford nearly recorded a triple double with 13 points, a game-high eight assists and a team-high nine rebounds. Poock totaled 12 points.

Of Note

• The 96 points scored are the most for the Bruins since a 101-45 home win over Southern Illinois on Jan. 22, 2023.
• Belmont's 16 made threes are the most since Jan. 29, 2022, when the Bruins went 16-for-34 in a home win over UT Martin.
• The 185 combined points at the Curb tie Belmont's 98-87 overtime win over Troy on Dec. 20, 2022.
• Prior to Saturday, the last time three Bruins reached 20 points in the same game was Dec. 21, 2017, when Kylee Smith (27), Darby Maggard (21) and Ellie Harmeyer (20) accomplished the feat in a 111-74 rout at Vanderbilt.
• Jones has scored in double figures in 11 of the last 12 games.
• Belmont moves to 24-4 all-time versus Murray State.
• The Bruins are 4-1 against the Racers since both programs joined the MVC.
• Belmont has won 19 of the last 21 matchups with Murray State dating back to the 2000-01 season.
• The Bruins have won four straight in the rivalry.

Up Next
Belmont hits the road next weekend, traveling to Valparaiso Friday and the University of Illinois Chicago next Sunday, Feb. 9. Tipoff between the Bruins and Beacons in Valparaiso, Indiana, Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. from the Athletics-Recreation Center. Both of next weekend's MVC road tests will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Ticket Info
Season tickets are on sale for $199 per seat and include all women's and men's basketball home games. Flex pack plans for the 2024-25 season, along with single-game tickets, are also available.
 
For more information, visit BelmontBruins.com/Tickets or call 615-460-BALL.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women's basketball on social media - @BelmontWBB on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontwbb on Instagram and Belmont Women's Basketball on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.