Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team (3-5, 0-1 A-Sun) held off a feisty visiting Tennessee State (3-6) team for its first win at the Curb Event Center in the Ezell Era on Tuesday evening. The Bruins held off the Lady Tigers down the stretch for an 80-66 victory.
Belmont pulled away early briefly against Tennessee State sparked by back-to-back skyhooks in the paint by senior Tereva Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) and junior Haley Nelson (Scottsboro, Ala.) before the teams got locked in a back and forth battle that resulted in a tie at 11 with just over 15 minutes still left in the first stanza. The Bruins were able to stretch their lead to three before a three-point play netted by Simone Hopes made it a one-point game, 19-18, by the 9:27 mark. The Lady Tigers kept the game within two points over the next two minutes before surging around the five minute mark.
TSU was able to take over the lead for the first time, 33-32, since the opening possession after Avery Jones hit a jumper and drained a pair at the free-throw line. Jones' effort sparked a 6-2 run to help with them holding onto the lead as the half neared the final two minutes. The teams began trading baskets as saw the lead change hands six times down the stretch. Finally, a triple from freshman Molly Ernst (Louisville, Ky.) put the Bruins on top, 41-40, with 90 seconds remaining in the half. The Lady Tigers used a fast break layup by Ashley Tate to take a one point lead, 42-41, with just 41 ticks remaining before the teams headed into the locker rooms. However, sophomore Alyssa Visbeen (Franklin, Tenn.) was fouled during an attempt from behind the arc. She knocked down all three to give the Bruins a two-point advantage, 44-42, with 10 seconds left but it would be Tennessee State that would have the last points of the half with Hopes banking in a lay-up. The teams headed into the break knotted for the eighth time in the half at 44 apiece.
The second half opened with a heated back and forth battle with the teams matching basket for basket. The battle resulted in four ties before Belmont grabbed the 54-52 lead with 11:42 left in the second half. A jumper from senior Whitney Seals (Raceland, Ky.) and four consecutive free throws by classmate Shaunda Strayhorn (Dyersburg, Tenn.) gave the Bruins their largest lead of the half, 58-52, with 10:21 left on the clock. The Lady Tigers struggled from the hardwood and slipped into a scoring drought that lasted over four and a half minutes before Alana Morris hit a jumper from the left side.
Strayhorn drained a falling down NBA-range three pointer to put BU back on top by seven, 61-54 with 7:20 left on the clock. Tennessee State rallied back and used a three-pointer by Jasmine Brimm to cut the Belmont lead down to three, 64-61, barely three minutes later. However, Nelson was unstoppable in the paint and found the bottom of the net on consecutive plays to extend Belmont's lead to nine, 70-61. The Lady Tiger bench called a timeout, hoping to stop the streaking Bruins but it would prove to be of little assistance. However, BU was in the double bonus and it would prove costly down the stretch for Tennessee State. TSU attempted to slow the clock by fouling, sending Strayhorn to the line six times over the final 1:55 where she hit all but two. Her near perfect performance at the stripe secured Belmont's 80-66 victory, giving first year Head Coach Brittney Ezell her first win at the Curb Event Center.
TSU shot 39.7 percent from the floor, 26.7 percent from behind the three-point arc, and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Tigers held the advantage in assists, 14-11, and steals, 3-2.
Tennessee State was led in scoring by Meredith Stafford, who scored 16 points. Hopes added 14 and Jones contributed 11 in the effort.
Belmont shot a season-best 50 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from three-point range and a season-high 85.4 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins had 41 opportunities at the line, hitting 35 of them. BU held the advantage in blocks, 4-0, and the teams were even in rebounds, grabbing 32 apiece.
BU had four players reach double figures for the first time this season, led by Strayhorn's career-high 26 points. Nelson was just two rebounds short of her first double-double of the season with eight boards and 16 points. Moore and Visbeen each contributed 11 points in the effort.
Belmont returns to action on December 16 at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host Atlantic Sun foe Kennesaw State beginning at 5 p.m. The game can be seen live on ASun.TV and heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network. Live stats will also be available.
