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
Nashville, TN
Referee:Erica Bradley
Referee:Cole Womack
Referee:Jody Cantrell
2025-26 Standings
| Atlantic Sun ConferenceAtlantic Sun Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky | 15-3 | - | 25-9 |
| Jacksonville | 13-5 | 2 | 24-9 |
| Central Arkansas | 13-5 | 2 | 21-11 |
| Stetson | 12-6 | 3 | 20-12 |
| North Alabama | 11-7 | 4 | 17-14 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 11-7 | 4 | 16-16 |
| West Georgia | 10-8 | 5 | 18-13 |
| Austin Peay | 8-10 | 7 | 19-14 |
| Lipscomb | 7-11 | 8 | 10-20 |
| Queens University | 4-14 | 11 | 10-20 |
| North Florida | 4-14 | 11 | 9-21 |
| Bellarmine | 0-18 | 15 | 2-30 |
| Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray State | 19-1 | - | 31-4 |
| Belmont | 16-4 | 3 | 20-12 |
| Illinois State | 13-7 | 6 | 24-14 |
| Bradley | 13-7 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Northern Iowa | 13-7 | 6 | 18-14 |
| Drake | 10-10 | 9 | 12-20 |
| UIC | 9-11 | 10 | 14-18 |
| Southern Illinois | 7-13 | 12 | 10-20 |
| Indiana State | 5-15 | 14 | 10-22 |
| Evansville | 5-15 | 14 | 10-25 |
| Valparaiso | 0-20 | 19 | 0-32 |
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