Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team (1-2) was tripped up by an early deficit and dropped its home opener to visiting UT-Martin (2-1) on Wednesday night at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins fell to the Skyhawks, 73-52, marking the first time since 2000 UTM was able to topple BU.
The Bruins hustled for an early 5-2 advantage behind a turnaround lay-in by senior Tereva Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) and a three pointer from the top of the arc by junior Cacy Burtnett (Cleveland, Tenn.). The teams briefly battled back and forth before UT-Martin used a three-point play to rattle off 12 consecutive points, all from behind the arc, to take a 19-7 lead with 12:53 remaining in the first half. After a quick timeout called by the BU bench, senior Rachel Swisher (Franklin, Ky.) was able to drill a trey from the left side of the arc to cut into the deficit, 19-10, just 30 seconds later.
The Skyhawks continued streaking, shooting over 70 percent from the three-point range at one point, eventually building a 21-point lead, 31-10, by the 8:31 mark. Belmont called another timeout and saw freshman Molly Ernst (Louisville, Ky.), the current Atlantic Sun Newcomer of the Week fire off a triple from the top of the arc, looking to spark the Bruins. Unfortunately, BU remained icy for nearly four additional minutes before sophomore Alyssa Visbeen (Franklin, Tenn.) was fouled and completed a three-point play.
Belmont opened the second half with a quick set pass to break the 20-point threshold with a lay-up by Moore and the UT-Martin bench immediately called timeout to make sure they wouldn't rest on their sizeable lead. The Bruins defensive effort intensified and they immediately began forcing the Skyhawks down to the final seconds of the shot clock to make a shot attempt. BU continued to chip away at the UTM lead using trips to the charity stripe by Ernst and junior Tristan Daniel (Waynesboro, Tenn.), followed by a trey from Ernst to trim the lead to 21, 50-29, with 12:38 left in regulation.
The Skyhawks' collective hot hands from the first stanza substantially cooled and the Bruins continued to work at closing the gap despite time appearing to not being on their side. Belmont turned to outside shooting to narrow the difference in score with a trey from Burtnett opening the door for three consecutive from Ernst over a three-minute span to move the Bruins to within 22, 67-45, with 3:55 left on the clock. Another flurry of action in the final 90 seconds of the game, including a lay-up and three from sophomore Kristin Nash (Stone Mountain, Ga.), would fall just short of helping the Bruins rebound from the deficit as the Skyhawks held on for the 73-52 victory.
UTM shot 42.6 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from three-point range and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. The Skyhawks held the advantage in rebounds, 47-31, assists, 14-11, blocks, 5-1, and steals, 7-6.
UT-Martin was led in scoring by Heather Butler's 19 points. Jaclissa Haislip and Taylor Hall also reached double digits, adding 17 and 11 points, respectively. Haislip also earned a double-double with a game-high 11 boards.
Belmont shot 30.6 percent from the floor, 62.5 percent from the charity stripe and 27.3 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Bruins forced 18 UTM turnovers.
The Bruins were led in scoring by Ernst, the lone player to reach double figures, with 17 points. Burtnett and Moore each added eight points in the effort. Daniel led the Bruins in rebounds, pulling down six.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host Tennessee Tech beginning at 3 p.m. Live stats will be available and the contest can be heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network.
