Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont women's basketball team fell short in its late rally to overcome a slow start on Saturday night at the Gentry Center. The Bruins (7-13, 4-3 OVC) were held off by crosstown rival Tennessee State (6-12, 3-2 OVC), 64-51.
The contest opened as a strong defensive battle as the teams traded baskets for the first four and a half minutes as BU saw points come from junior Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.), redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) and rookie Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.). Suddenly, the Bruins went ice cold from all over the floor. Lady Tigers exploded and were able to pull away behind a 10-0 run to go up 16-6 by the 8:03 mark.
Finally, a pair of free throws by Luffman snapped the nearly eight-minute long icy spell and sparked the BU offense to work to close the gap. A jumper by Luffman in the lane trimmed the differential to nine, 21-12 but TSU continued to connect in its midrange game.
Tennessee State rebuilt and held on to the double digit lead until the final 90 seconds of the half. Joubran was able to penetrate traffic for a layup to cut the lead to eight, 24-16, but the Lady Tigers held the final shot of the stanza and connected and took a 26-16 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, the teams resumed trading baskets early on before another icy spell gripped the Bruins. TSU took advantage this time using a series of triples by Briana Lawrence to expand its lead to 22, 44-22, by the 14:16 mark. Down but not out, BU dug in its heels and looked to its inside game to find the bottom of the net. Right on cue, senior Molly Ernst (Louisville, Ky.) nailed a triple and Luffman followed adding three the hard way to trim the point differential to 18, 50-32, with just over 10 and a half minutes left in regulation.
The Bruins kept working and by five minute mark, they had begun to string together a rally. In all, BU made a 12-3 run, with baskets coming from juniors Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) and Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.), Luffman and Joubran, to inch within 11, 59-48, with just 1:24 remaining on the clock. Belmont continued to press but time was not on its side. The Lady Tigers used the clock to their advantage in the final 60 seconds. Tarrence added three points the hard way but TSU held for the final shot of the contest to win, 64-51.
"After falling behind early, we knew we had to attack in the second half," said Luffman. "It was tough but we wanted to leave it all out there during that last rally."
"My shots weren't falling so I tried to help the team by getting in for those offensive rebounds and my teammates were able to find me inside."
Tennessee State shot 34.3 percent from the floor, 40 percent from three-point range and 56 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Tigers held the advantage in rebounds, 51-48, and steals, 5-3.
TSU had three players in double figures – Rachel Allen, with 13, Alana Morris with 12 and Brianna Lawrence with 11 points. Chelsea Hudson grabbed 11 rebounds.
Belmont shot 30.4 percent from the hardwood, an icy 5.6 percent from behind the three-point arc and 80 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in blocks, 6-4. The teams were even in assists with 10 each.
Luffman led all scorers with 16 points, followed by Joubran who added 14. Each picked up a double-double with 13 and 12 rebounds, respectively. Thompson finished with three blocks.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday, January 25 in a doubleheader that is part of Betty Wiseman Day. A celebration for her lifelong commitment to Belmont Athletics will be held in between games. Tipoff against Eastern Kentucky is set for 5:30 p.m. The contest can be seen live on the OVC Digital Network and fans can listen to Dr. Rich Tiner on the play-by-play call on the Bruins Sports Network. Live stats and an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
