LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Interstat) — The Morehead State Eagles used a dominant first quarter to secure a commanding 84-68 road victory over the Bellarmine Knights in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday night at Knights Hall.

Morehead State established control from the opening tip, outscoring Bellarmine 21-12 in the first period and never looking back. The Eagles built a 40-32 lead by halftime and maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the second half, answering every Bellarmine push to even their season record at 1-1. The Knights also moved to 1-1.

The Eagles’ offense was fueled by a potent backcourt duo. Landon Forbes, a 5-foot-6 guard from Wichita, Kansas, led all scorers with 22 points, adding nine rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes. She was complemented by Laura Toffali, a 5-9 guard from Villasanta, Italy, who contributed 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Bellarmine, which was projected as a heavy favorite by Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to find consistent offense against the Eagles’ defense. The Knights were led by Triniti Ralston, a Louisville native, who scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Ava Smith provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.

Morehead State’s interior presence was also a key factor. Violet McNece, a 6-foot forward from Chesterfield, Missouri, posted 13 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. The Eagles’ depth showed as Kate Dike added nine points and Marie Sepp chipped in 12 points.

After their strong first quarter, the Eagles weathered a more competitive second period where Bellarmine scored 20 points, but Morehead State still took an eight-point lead into the break. The third quarter was nearly even, with Bellarmine outscoring the Eagles by a single point, but Morehead State slammed the door with a 24-point fourth quarter to seal the 16-point win.

An announced crowd of 450 watched as the Eagles handed the Knights their first loss of the young season.

Morehead State will look to build on the win when they travel to face Ohio on Thursday, Nov. 13. Bellarmine will aim to rebound on the same day with a road game against Ohio State.