NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team returns to the Curb Event Center for its lone home game of the month of December. The Bruins (3-6) host No. 16 Georgia (8-0) on Thursday night in conjunction with their Holiday Toy Drive.
Georgia stands at a perfect 8-0 heading into games this week and boast a No. 16 ranking in this week's USA Today Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll.
UGA has four players averaging in double digits led by Tiaria Griffin, who is dropping in 15 points per game. Erika Ford, Khaalidah Miller and Shacobia Barbee round out the top scorers, contributing 11.8, 11.3 and 11.2 points per contest, respectively. Barbee also leads the team in rebounds, grabbing 9.3 per outing.
The Dogs have won both of the only meetings between the programs. The teams first met in the 2007 NCAA Tournament with Georgia winning soundly in Belmont's first bid to the Big Dance, 53-36.
Belmont returns to the Curb Event Center for its lone home game of the month of December this week. The Bruins are eager to snap a two-game skid, after stumbling on the road at Wake Forest last week. Junior Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) reached double digits for the eighth time this season, netting a team-high 15 points in the game. Classmate Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) contributed eight points in the effort. Redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) pulled down a team-high five rebounds.
BU is led in scoring by Luffman, who is averaging 15 points per outing. She also leads the team in rebounds, pulling down 8.0 per game, and steals with a total of 13. Classmate Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) leads the team in assists with a total of 37 while sophomore Blair Bryce (Red Oak, Texas) leads the Bruins in blocks with seven.
A pair of Bruins are nationally ranked this week – Luffman stands 38th in double doubles with a total of 4, 81st in free-throw percentage (86.5), 178th in rebounds per game (8.0), 230th in points per game (15.0) and 239th in field-goal percentage (42.1) while Tarrence is ranked 169th in assists per game (4.1).
Please consider brightening the Christmas of a youth patient at Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt by donating a new, unwrapped toy for the Women's Basketball Toy Drive. The hospital is in the greatest need of the following donations:
- Fisher Price medical kits
- Small Lego sets
- Infant and toddler light and sound toys
- Tactile toys for all ages
- Teen gifts
- All-in-one craft kits
- Pajama sets (infant to teen sizes)
- Elastic-waisted sweat pants or leggings (infant to teen sizes)
- Short-sleeve shirts (infant to teen sizes)
- Long-sleeve shirts (infant to teen sizes)
- Sweat shirts (child to teen sizes)
Note: For the safety of the children, the hospital cannot accept stuffed animals or toys with cloth or hair.
Fans who donate a toy at the game are eligible to receive the group ticket discount of $3 for adults and $1 for youth. Donation discount is good only for the December 12th game.
See a special video of Belmont Women's Basketball shopping for the Toy Drive
Thursday night's matchup is slated to tipoff at 7 p.m. The game can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network. Live stats and an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
