Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Despite a strong second half surge, the Belmont women's basketball team (2-6) was held off by visiting Chattanooga (5-3) on Thursday afternoon at the Curb Event Center.
The Bruins opened the contest with a hard driving layup by sophomore Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) and a jumper by classmate Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.). The Lady Mocs were quickly able to pull ahead, 17-10, thanks to a 9-2 run around the 12 minute mark. Belmont slipped into an icy spell from the hardwood for more than three and half minutes as Chattanooga expanded its lead. Finally, a jumper in the lane by Thompson was enough to get BU back into the game.
Chattanooga pulled away again using back-to-back shots behind the arc to go up, 28-12, with just under five minutes remaining in the half. However, the Bruins dug in their heels and surged over the same span. Freshman Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) drove under the strings for an over the shoulder scoop shot for her first points of the day and Joubran followed with a tip in to close the gap to 28-16 one minute later. They continued to build an 8-2 run, capped with a turnaround jumper by senior Blair Bryce (Red Oak, Texas) that moved the team to within 10, 30-20, by the 2:04 mark. Neither team was able to score in the waning minutes as they headed to their respective locker rooms locked at the same score.
After the break, Chattanooga built a 13-point lead, 35-22, before senior Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.) drilled Belmont's first triple of the day from the left corner. Chattanooga suddenly found its rim lidded for nearly five minutes as the Bruins attempted to claw back into the matchup. Senior Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) and Jones kept BU within 10, 40-30, by the 9:56 mark. The Lady Mocs struggled to emerge from the scoring drought but leaned on defense to keep BU at bay.
Four minutes later, senior Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) knocked down a three pointer from the top of the arc to close the gap once again to 10, 47-37. Belmont moved within single digits for the first time since the early minutes with a strong layup by Joubran with 2:57 left on the clock.
The Lady Mocs closed the final two and a half minutes with a 13-point surge. Luffman-Hartsfield knocked down a triple and followed with a pair at the line to close the gap to 13 with 19 seconds remaining. Tarrence hustled through the lane to add two more to BU's tally but Chattanooga used a foul with 1.1 seconds on the clock to add one more to secure the 60-48 victory.
UTC shot 45.1 percent from the floor, 44.4 percent from three-point range and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Mocs held the narrow advantage in assists, 13-12, steals, 12-7, and blocks, 7-4.
Belmont shot 32.7 percent from the hardwood, 23.1 percent from behind the three-point arc and 75 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in rebounds, 37-30.
BU was led in scoring by sophomore Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.), who collected her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Senior Jordyn Luffman-Hartsfield (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) added seven points and six rebounds.
Belmont returns to action on Sunday, December 14 when the team travels to take on Kentucky. The contest can be seen live on the SEC Network and heard live on the Bruins Sports Network. Live stats and an in-game Twitter feed (@BelmontWBB) will also be available.
