Box Score TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Despite a strong comeback in the second half, the Belmont women's basketball team (4-6) was unable to overtake Alabama (9-2) on the road on Saturday, falling 64-46.
After a sluggish start, a pair of three pointers from the top of the arc from junior Cacy Burtnett (Cleveland, Tenn.) cut the Alabama lead to one basket, 8-6, by the 16 minute mark. Both teams struggled from the floor, combining for only five shots made with just under 12 minutes left in the first stanza. The Bruins were strongly pressuring each time the Tide attempted to make a shot from behind the three-point line, holding them at 0-5 midway through the half. Unfortunately, the Bruins fell would fall icy from the floor, finding the bottom of the net only once over a four and a half minute span.
An aggressive Alabama fouled senior Whitney Seals (Raceland, Ky.) and she netted both shots at the stripe to halt another BU dry spell, this one pushing five and a half minutes, to cut the lead to 10, 20-10, with 5:15 left before the break. The Crimson Tide got hot offensively and went on a 9-2 run to pull away by 17, 29-12, after senior Tereva Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) drove through heavy traffic in the paint to score. A backdoor slip to junior Haley Nelson (Scottsboro, Ala.) sparked the Bruins in the final 45 seconds and BU held the ball, allowing for sophomore Kristin Nash (Stone Mountain, Ga.) to lay-in the final points of the half. The Bruins headed to the locker room down by 13, 29-16.
BU opened the second half much more aggressively and protected the ball from the quick hands that forced several turnovers in the first stanza. The team worked to trim the Crimson Tide lead and had moved as close as 12, 37-25, four minutes in after the second of a pair at the stripe by junior Tristan Daniel (Waynesboro, Tenn.) found the bottom of the net. However, Alabama was able to rebuild its lead to 20 by the 13:04 mark.
The Bruins sprang into action around the 13 minute mark after a trey from Nash was sandwiched by two quick jumpers from Nelson. The teams began trading three pointers with freshman Molly Ernst (Louisville, Ky.) knocking down three in a row from various spots outside the arc. Nelson followed with a jumper with 5:04 remaining in regulation to make it an 18-point game but that would be as close as the Bruins would come. Alabama expanded its lead to 23 but a triple from Daniel and a put back by Ernst under the basket with two seconds remaining gave UA the 64-46 win over Belmont.
The Crimson Tide shot 37.3 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from three-point range, and 68.2 percent from the free-throw line. Alabama held the advantage in blocks, 3-2, and steals, 9-1.
Ericka Russell led UA with a game-high 17 points, followed by Tierney Jenkins' 13 points.
Ernst and Burtnett each netted 11 points to lead the Bruins, knocking down three triples apiece. Nelson picked up her first double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Strayhorn finished with a game-high six assists.
Belmont shot 34 percent from the floor, 40 percent from behind the three-point arc, and 46.2 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in rebounds, 42-36, and assists, 12-11.
The Bruins will take time off for the Christmas holiday and return to action at the Curb Event Center on December 30. The Bruins host intrastate rival Chattanooga beginning at 4 p.m. Live stats will be available and the game can be heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network.
