Box Score SAN JUAN, P.R. – A tremendous second half rally by Belmont women's basketball (3-10) fell just short on Saturday at the Puerto Rico Classic. The Bruins were edged down the stretch by first-time opponent UTEP (10-1), 88-74.
UTEP opened the first-ever meeting between the programs with a 10-0 run before freshman Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) found the bottom of the net to get Belmont on the board. A layup by redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) cut the point differential to single digits, 13-4, but that would be the last time in the first stanza. The Miners continued to pour on the points from all over the floor as the Bruins struggled to find an offensive rhythm to get into the contest. Sophomore Blair Bryce (Red Oak, Texas) shined at the free-throw line, hitting 4-of-6 attempts, before BU slipped into a scoring drought that lasted over three minutes.
The Bruins found a spark to get them back in the game with the season debut of senior Molly Ernst (Louisville, Ky.), who saw her first minutes of the season on the hardwood after missing the first 12 games due to injury. She came into the game halfway through the first half and almost immediately added two points in the paint, trimming the UTEP lead to 16, 27-11.
BU kept chipping away at the UTEP lead, which had grown to as many as 26, 45-19, by the 3:20 mark. Junior Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) netted the Bruins' final seven points before the Miners found the bottom of the net as time expired to take a 49-26 lead into the locker room.
Belmont opened the second stanza on a mission to make up ground, exploding with back-to-back three pointers by freshman Madison Blevins (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Luffman to close the gap to 51-32. BU kept hustling on the offensive glass and from behind the arc. Ernst drilled a trey from the left side of the arc, making it a 15-point game, 58-43, with just under 12 minutes left on the clock.
The Miners continued to score inside but at a much slower pace than earlier, however the Bruins did not give up down the stretch and kept working. Junior Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) netted three the hard way after driving for a layup in the paint to keep the Bruins within 17, 64-46, two minutes later. A terrific spin and tip-in by Bryce forced UTEP to burn a timeout as the Bruins narrowed the gap to 14, 66-52 with 7:32 left on the clock. Belmont intensified its defensive efforts, switching to a full court press and hustling even more for rebounds. By the 4:42 mark, BU was within 14 again, 74-60.
BU turned up the heat on both sides of the ball and quickly gained ground on the hot three-point shooting of Ernst and jumpers from junior Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.). At the end of the flurry, Belmont was within seven, 74-67, with 2:50 remaining in regulation.
UTEP used shots at the free-throw line, thanks to being in the double bonus, to put some distance between the teams in the final 90 seconds of regulation. Despite another defensive push by BU, the Miners were able to rebuild their double digit advantage and push to the 88-74 win.
The Miners shot 48.3 percent from the floor, 40 percent from three-point range and 68.4 percent from the free-throw line. UTEP held the advantage in rebounds, 44-39, assists, 17-10, blocks, 10-0 and steals, 7-3.
UTEP saw three players reach double figures. Kayla Thornton picked up a double-double with a game-high 36 points and 16 rebounds, followed by Stacie Telles with 12 and Kristine Vitola with 10 points.
Belmont shot 35.8 percent from the hardwood, 45 percent from behind the three-point arc, and 73.9 percent from the charity stripe.
Ernst netted 21 points, including five three pointers, in her first game of the season. Luffman picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Belmont returns to action on December 28 after a break for the Christmas holiday. The Bruins open OVC play on the road at SIUE. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. The contest can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and heard live via the internet on the Bruins Sports Network. An in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
