Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- The Belmont women's basketball team (8-8, 3-1) OVC was able to hold off a late surge on the road to collect its third OVC win of the season. The Bruins survive a scare at Jacksonville State (0-16, 0-4 OVC) and come away with a 68-62 win on Monday afternoon in Alabama.
The Bruins opened the matchup a little slow, unable to find the bottom of the net on their first two trips to their basket before senior Katie Brooks (Maryville, Tenn.) got hot from the hardwood. She knocked down back-to-back jumpers in the lane before sophomore Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) got in on the action with one of her own to put BU on top by one, 6-5. Strong defense led by the rebounding and shot blocking of senior Jordan Coleman (Orlando, Fla.) went on to help Belmont maintain its lead for the remainder of the half.
JSU fell ice cold from the floor for more than four minutes as BU worked to build a seven-point lead, 14-7, by the 10:28 mark with baskets coming from Brooks and sophomore Torie Vaught (Maryville, Tenn.). Slow but steady was the name of the game for the rest of the half as Belmont put together a 6-0 run that forced the Gamecock bench to burn a timeout as the Bruins grabbed their biggest lead of the stanza, 20-12, with just under six and a half minutes left in the first half. Jacksonville State was able to cut that lead in half two minutes later but that would be as close it would come, despite an uptick in effort on both sides of the ball.
JSU attempted to turn up the offensive heat in the final 90 seconds before the teams headed to the locker rooms, working to trim Belmont's lead down to five, 28-23. However, the Bruins used a strong combination of good defense and clock management to maintain that five-point advantage as the first half clock expired.
As the teams returned for the second half, JSU attempted to be more aggressive but was no match for Belmont's disciplined work on both sides of the ball. Senior Alyssa Visbeen (Franklin, Tenn.) was awarded a pair at the stripe as she fouled driving in the lane and after the Gamecocks turned up empty on the opposite end and she was able to push for a tip-in to put the Bruins up, 32-25, by the 18:34 mark.
The Gamecocks pushed and hustled to within one, 41-40, with 9:57 left in regulation but BU tightened its stranglehold on the contest, forcing JSU to burn another timeout after redshirt sophomore Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) exploded offensively to open a 7-0 run that was capped by a free-throw by sophomore Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.), expanding Belmont's lead to eight again, 48-40.
All told, the Bruins had knit together a 13-2 run that put them on top, 56-42, with 4:50 left on the clock. JSU attempted its final rally 30 seconds later, surging behind a 7-0 run to move back within single digits, 58-51, by the 1:50 mark. However, a pair at the stripe by Coleman gave BU more breathing room and doused the comeback flames. The Gamecocks would get as close as five, 61-56, 30 seconds later but that would be as narrow as the gap would become. Both teams closed the contest in the double bonus, combining for eight trips to the charity stripe in the final 1:17. JSU banked in a triple with seven seconds on the clock but the Bruins held on for the 68-62 win.
Jacksonville State shot 34.9 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent from three-point range and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line.
The Gamecocks had three players to reach double digits led by Bria'unna Buckner, who scored 17. Amanda McCarthy added 11 and Marikate Gardler contributed 10 points. Gia Banks led the team in rebounds, grabbing 13.
Belmont shot 41.4 percent from the hardwood, a frigid 13.3 percent from behind the three-point arc and 62.1 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in assists, 12-10, blocks, 3-1, and steals, 6-1. BU forced 17 Jacksonville State turnovers.
Brooks led the Bruins in scoring with a game-high 19 points. Carroll added nine points while Coleman, Visbeen, Tarrence, Luffman and Vaught each added eight points. Coleman pulled down a game and season-high 17 rebounds and had a game and season-high six assists.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host UT Martin beginning at 2 p.m. The contest can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and heard live via the internet on the Bruin Sports Network. Live stats and a Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
