Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A late rally fell just short in the Belmont women's basketball (0-1) season opener on Friday night. The Bruins were held off by neighboring Vanderbilt (1-0), 65-58.
After a slow start, the Bruins finally got on the board behind a layup by senior Jordyn Luffman-Hartsfield (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.). BU closed the gap to three before VU kicked open the door with a 7-0 run to pull away by double digits for the first time, 17-7, by the 11:11 mark. However, the Bruins were able to double their defensive efforts and close the gap back to single digits four minutes later. BU stayed within striking distance for several minutes.
Luffman-Hartsfield sparked a rally with a trey and the Bruins used a jumper by freshman Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) and a triple by senior Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.) to make it a three-point game, 28-25, by the three minute mark. BU continued surging and managed to keep the game close as the first half drew to a close. VU found the back of the net twice in the final 1:54 but a pair at the stripe by Jones sent the teams to the locker rooms separated by five, 32-27.
Vanderbilt scored twice to open the second half but the Bruins clawed back into the game with a triple and a jumper coming from Luffman-Hartsfield and a Joubran layup. The Commodores dug in their heels and rebuilt a double digit lead, 44-34, by the 14:20 mark but BU continued to fight. A jumper by freshman Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) opened a 7-0 run for Belmont that made it a three-point game, 44-41, two minutes later.
BU continued to hustle to stay within stay within striking distance and used a trifecta by Jones to inch within two, 46-44, but VU was able to reset and regain control to go up by eight once again. A flurry of jumpers by Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) netted six consecutive points for the Bruins to inch them to within one, 57-56, with 4:10 left in regulation. On the next possession twenty seconds later, a put back by McCabe gave Belmont its first lead of the night, 58-57, bringing Bruin fans to their feet inside Memorial Gym. However, a three-point play put VU back on top and it refused to relinquish the lead. Vanderbilt used being in the double bonus to its advantage in the final 90 seconds of regulation, going to the line four times. BU was unable to find the bottom of the net in the waning seconds and the Commodores went on to take the game, 65-58.
VU shot 38.2 percent from the floor, 27.3 percent from three-point range and 58.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Morgan Batey led the Commodores in scoring with 15 points, followed by Paris Kea and Marqu'es Webb with 11 apiece and Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau with 10 points. Caron-Goudreau also grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds.
Belmont shot 39.7 percent from the floor, 37 percent from behind the three-point arc and 40 percent from the charity stripe.
The Bruins saw three players reach double digits led by Luffman-Hartsfield's game-high 22 points. Mills added 11 points and McCabe contributed 10 in her collegiate debut. Joubran pulled down a game-high 12 boards.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday, November 16 for its home opener at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host North Alabama beginning at 5 p.m. It's a CODE BLUE game so fans are asked to wear blue in support of the Bruins' lone home game of the month. The matchup 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.
