In an intense matchup for first place in the Missouri Valley Conference, Murray State women’s basketball fell to the Belmont Bruins 96-89 on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Curb Event Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Despite an electrifying 39-point performance from graduate forward Katelyn Young, the Racers came up short against the Bruins.

Young’s dominant outing, which also included seven rebounds and four assists, was her highest scoring game of the season and the second-best of her career, trailing only her 43-point performance at Drake in 2023. Her 39 points marked the seventh-highest single-game total in program history. Over the last three games, she has been on a tear, averaging 32.3 points and Young continues to lead the Racers this season, averaging 20.4 points per game.

Murray State had four players score in double figures, with Ava Learn contributing 17 points, Haven Ford adding 13 and Halli Poock finishing with 12. Learn and Ford also made a strong impact on the boards, leading the team with eight and nine rebounds.

Despite the loss, the Racers were efficient from the free-throw line, converting 14-of-15 attempts. They also entered the contest ranked third nationally in scoring and continued to showcase their offensive power.

The loss marks the first time this season that Murray State has been defeated when scoring more than 80 points. The Racers will look to bounce back as they continue their road trip with a game against UIC in Chicago, Illinois on Friday, Feb. 7.