Belmont Bruins vs Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Smith scores 30, Belmont women win OVC 94-64 over E Kentucky
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kylee Smith scored a career-high 30 points and Belmont advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row by routing Eastern Kentucky 94-64 in the Ohio Valley championship game on Saturday.
Smith had 22 points and Darby Maggard 12 of her 22 in the second half as the Bruins (27-5) won their 21st straight, the second longest Division I women's streak in the country, and 25th straight over OVC opponents.
Sally McCabe had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four steals for top-seeded Belmont and Lauren Thompson had 10 points and matched Smith with seven boards.
Mariah Massengill and Shavontae Naylor had 16 points apiece for the seventh-seeded Colonels (12-20) and Jalen O'Bannon had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Smith hit a 3-pointer and Thompson and McCabe followed with baskets after Naylor had opened the scoring and the Bruins never trailed again.
Belmont led 38-28 at the half and outscored Eastern Kentucky by 10 in the third and fourth quarters.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Erica Bradley
- Cole Womack
- Jody Cantrell
2024-25 ASUN Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Gulf Coast | 18-0 | - | 30-4 |
| Central Arkansas | 15-3 | 3 | 23-10 |
| Lipscomb | 12-6 | 6 | 20-12 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 10-8 | 8 | 21-12 |
| Stetson | 10-8 | 8 | 16-15 |
| Bellarmine | 8-10 | 10 | 18-15 |
| Jacksonville | 8-10 | 10 | 14-17 |
| North Alabama | 8-10 | 10 | 13-17 |
| West Georgia | 7-11 | 11 | 13-17 |
| Austin Peay | 7-11 | 11 | 13-18 |
| Queens University | 4-14 | 14 | 10-19 |
| North Florida | 1-17 | 17 | 5-26 |
2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State | 16-4 | - | 25-8 |
| Missouri State | 16-4 | 1 | 26-9 |
| Belmont | 15-5 | 1 | 26-13 |
| Drake | 15-5 | 1 | 22-12 |
| Illinois State | 14-6 | 2 | 24-13 |
| Northern Iowa | 11-9 | 5 | 17-17 |
| UIC | 10-10 | 6 | 15-18 |
| Valparaiso | 9-11 | 7 | 13-19 |
| Bradley | 7-13 | 9 | 14-19 |
| Evansville | 3-17 | 13 | 7-25 |
| Southern Illinois | 2-18 | 14 | 4-26 |
| Indiana State | 2-18 | 14 | 4-28 |

