Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a contest that saw 13 ties and 16 lead changes, the Belmont women's basketball team (2-5) was unable to pull off a win over visiting IUPUI (4-2) on Tuesday night at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins dropped a heartbreaker down the stretch to the first-time opponent Jaguars, 61-53, slipping to 2-5 on the season.
The contest opened with the teams trading baskets, with senior Katie Brooks (Maryville, Tenn.) netted BU's first five points from a jumper in the lane and a triple from the right side of the arc. Five minutes into the matchup saw the Bruins use the back end of a pair at the line by freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) to knot the game at six. Sophomore Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) got hot, driving for a layup and then drilling a trey near the same spot as Brooks to put Belmont on top, 11-7, by the 13:50 mark.
The squads began trading baskets once again, tying the score at 11, and 13. IUPUI took a brief 18-15 lead before the Bruins worked to knot the score at 20 with a pair at the stripe by senior Alyssa Visbeen (Franklin, Tenn.) forced the sixth tie of the half with six minutes to go. The back and forth battle picked back up as time raced toward the break. By the 2:18 mark, two at the free-throw line by redshirt freshman Blair Bryce (Red Oak, Texas) knotted the game for a 10th time, this time at 29. The Jaguars again made a brief surge to up by five, 34-29, in the final 60 seconds but two more free throws by Brooks cut their lead to one possession, 34-32, for the final points of the half.
The Bruins came out on fire after the break, dominating on both sides of the ball to hold IUPUI scoreless for the first five and a half minutes, surging behind reigning OVC Newcomer of the Week Jordan Coleman (Orlando, Fla.) and a huge jumper just inside the arc at the shot clock buzzer by Brooks with 16:30 on the clock. Three minutes later, the Jaguars sprang to life and pulled within one, 41-40, behind some quick work under the rim. The teams then fell back into their first stanza pattern of trading baskets, staying separated by only one point for upwards of four minutes.
The Bruins were able to maintain a five-point advantage as the clock moved into its final eight minutes. However, IUPUI was able to slowly chip away at the lead and by the 3:58 mark had forced the 13th tie of the night at 51 on a completed three-point play. Belmont went ice cold from the hardwood as the Jaguars were able to build a six-point lead, 59-53, in the final 90 seconds. All told, IUPUI put together a 15-2 run to close the contest. BU's lone points in the remaining two minutes came from a trip to the line by Carroll but it was too little too late as the Jaguars delivered the 61-53 heartbreaker to the Bruins.
IUPUI shot 33.9 percent from the floor, an icy 14.3 percent from long range and 72 percent from the free-throw line. The Jaguars held the advantage in assists, 10-9, and steals, 13-4.
Three players reached double figures, led by Katie Comello's 19 points. DeAirra Goss added 13 and Akilah Sims contributed 11. Sims also led the team in rebounds, grabbing seven.
Belmont shot 33.3 percent from the hardwood, 27.3 percent from behind the three-point arc and 80 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in blocks 5-3. The teams were tied in rebounds at 39 apiece.
Belmont was led in scoring by Brooks, who netted 13 in the effort. Coleman and Carroll each added nine points. Coleman also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Bryce collected a team-high two blocks. Sophomore Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.), Bryce and Carroll were all perfect at the stripe.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday when it battles former Atlantic Sun rival Lipscomb in part one of the annual Battle of the Boulevard. The matchup is at LU beginning at 6:30 p.m. The contest can be heard live via the internet on the Bruin Sports Network. Live stats and a Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will be available.
