Murray State wins Missouri Valley title, defeating Belmont

Katelyn Young scored 34 points as Murray State defeated Belmont 83-62 to win its first Missouri Valley Conference tournament title. Young also surpassed 3,000 career points, moving to 15th on the NCAA Division I scoring list. Murray State built a strong lead at halftime, 45-29, but Belmont narrowed the gap to 51-48 in the third quarter. The Racers responded with a late run to maintain their advantage heading into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Murray State's offense surged, with key three-pointers from Young and Hallie Poock. Poock contributed 22 points, while Haven Ford had 12 rebounds and nine assists. Kendal Cheesman led Belmont with 18 points.