Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team
(1-5) used a complete team effort to pick up its first win of the
season on Sunday afternoon at the Curb Event Center. The
Bruins defeated visiting Indiana State (2-3), 69-59, snapping a
five-game skid to open the season.
After a slow start, the Bruins knotted the score at four behind
back-to-back jumpers by senior Haley Nelson
(Scottsboro, Ala.) and sophomore Molly Ernst
(Louisville, Ky.) by the 15:57 mark. Ernst drilled her first
triple of the day to give Belmont its first lead of the afternoon,
10-9, but it opened a three-point shooting contest between the
teams. Over the span of three and a half minutes, the squads
combined for six three pointers. ISU briefly took the lead with a
jumper before junior transfer Katie Brooks
(Maryville, Tenn.) rainbowed a jumper from the left block to knot
the score at 17 with 11:11 on the clock.
The Sycamores gained a four-point advantage, 21-17, with just
over eight minutes remaining in the half but freshman Katie Carroll
(Lilburn, Ga.) netted a jumper and followed with a steal and a fast
break layup to tie the game at 21 with 7:17 on the clock.
Less than two minutes later, the game would be tied again, this
time at 24 after another Ernst trey. The teams traded baskets
until a turnaround jumper in the paint by junior Alyssa Visbeen
(Franklin, Tenn.) gave BU a one-point advantage, 28-27, with 2:43
remaining before the break. Indiana State answered with a
basket on their possession but senior Cacy Burtnett
(Cleveland, Tenn.) found the bottom of the net, putting BU on top,
30-29, with 60 seconds on the clock. Both teams were able to
score in the waning seconds and the Bruins carried the one-point
lead into the locker room.
ISU came out of the locker room looking to regain ground,
working to tie the game at 33 barely three minutes in. The
Bruins answered the spark with a 6-0 run capped with sophomore Julianne
Downs (Franklin, Tenn.), battling in the paint to put back her
own attempt giving the BU a 39-33 lead. Belmont was able to
take advantage of an Indiana State scoring drought and maintain a
seven-point lead until there were just 11 minutes left in the
contest. Senior Tristan Daniel
(Waynesboro, Tenn.) opened up what would become a 9-2 Belmont run
and freshman Adrienne
Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) netted a jumper in the lane as
the shot clock expired to put nine points between the teams, 51-42,
with 8:47 remaining.
The Sycamores began chipping away at the Bruins' lead until they
were within a mere two points, 54-52, with 5:18 left in regulation
after a three-pointer by Deja Mattox. The overly eager
Indiana State defense would send BU to the line on consecutive
possessions but despite not being unable to convert any of the free
throws, the Bruins held on to the lead. Brooks made up for
the points with a pair of jumpers from the elbows, forcing ISU to
call a timeout in hopes of slowing the streaking Bruins. The smell
of victory in the air, BU continued to hustle on both sides of the
ball and took advantage of being in the double bonus in the final
three minutes.
Belmont would grow its lead to its largest of the day, 12
points, 65-53, with 1:53 remaining in regulation using baskets at
the charity stripe by Burtnett, Downs, and freshman Torie Vaught
(Maryville, Tenn.). ISU would hit a pair at the line in the
final 12 seconds but Belmont was able to hold on for the 69-59
victory.
The win snapped a five-game skid for the Bruins, the longest to
open a season in program history. The victory also marked the
third ever over Indiana State, a team Belmont had not faced since
the 1978-79 season.
Indiana State shot 41.7 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent
from the free-throw line and 30.4 percent from long range.
The Sycamores held the advantage in blocks, 4-1.
ISU was led in scoring by Shannon Thomas' 17 points.
Brittany Schoen and Deja Mattox also reached double figures adding
15 and 10 points, respectively. Thomas also led the team in
rebounds with 12.
Belmont shot a season-best 44.8 percent from the floor, 48.1
percent from the charity stripe and 23.5 percent from behind the
three-point arc. The Bruins held the advantage in rebounds,
36-35, assists, 12-7, and steals, 10-7. BU also forced 19
Indiana State turnovers.
Ernst led the Bruins with a season-high 14 points.
Burtnett and Brooks each added nine points in the win and
Downs dropped in eight points. Brooks finished with a
game-high three assists while Ernst collected the team's lone block
of the day.
Belmont returns to the road for a contest on Tuesday
night. The Bruins travel to Gainesville to take on first-time
opponent Florida. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. CT and the
game can be heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports
Network. Video will also be available.
