Box Score RICHMOND, Ky. -- An incredible second half rally fueled a tremendous Belmont women's basketball come from behind win on the road Monday night. The Bruins (13-15, 10-5 OVC) toppled Eastern Kentucky (15-10, 9-5 OVC), 72-68, to improve to 10-5 in the OVC and recapture the top spot in East Division heading into the final week of the regular season.
The contest opened with a huge back and forth battle between the teams before EKU exploded, pulling away 15-6 with just under 13 and a half minutes left. A quick 6-0 run behind a three by junior Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.) from the left side of the arc, a layup by redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) and the front end of a pair at the stripe by junior Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) moved BU within three, 15-12, with 11:20 remaining.
The defensive effort by both teams intensified around the 10 minute mark. EKU surged and put together a 7-0 run to pull away by double digits for the first time in the game, 24-14, with 6:38 remaining before the break. Despite calling timeout to regroup, it would not be for another two minutes before the Bruins found the bottom of the net on a pair of free throws by Mills.
Belmont continued to battle down the stretch, trying to keep the point differential under 10. With 41 ticks left on the clock, a triple by junior Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.) cut the EKU lead to eight, 32-24. The Colonels held the ball after another jumper to take a 34-24 lead into the locker room.
The Bruins opened the second half on fire offensively. Junior Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) netted back-to-back jumpers and Tarrence came away with a midcourt steal only to be fouled after she made the layup to convert the three-point opportunity. BU kept surging on a 9-2 run, capped by a skyhook by junior Torie Vaught (Maryville, Tenn.) to knot the score at 40 with 15 minutes remaining.
A steal and a fast break layup by Mills put Belmont on top, 53-51, with 9:15 on the clock and opened up an 11-0 run. At the end of the flurry, BU was on top by eight, 59-51, three minutes later. EKU, who seemed paralyzed offensively during the span, went into overdrive to make up points in the waning minutes. By the two and a half minute mark, the Colonels had inched within one, 65-64, after a three by Miranda Maples. However, the Bruins remained poised in the face of the threat. Taking advantage of being in the double bonus, Belmont went on to secure its 72-68 victory with shots at the free-throw line to close the game.
Eastern Kentucky shot 49.1 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 78.6 percent from the free-throw line. The Colonels held the advantage in rebounds, 33-25, and assists, 15-9.
EKU had three players reach double figures – Miranda Maples with 16, Shelly Harper with 14 and Marie Carpenter with 13 points. Maples grabbed nine rebounds.
Belmont shot 45.7 percent from the hardwood, 46.7 percent from behind the three-point arc and 76.7 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in steals, 9-3. The teams were even in blocks with two apiece.
Mills scored a game and career-high 24 points, fueled by four three pointers. Also reaching double digits were Joubran and Luffman, who each added 11 points. Joubran also led BU in rebounds, pulling down seven.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday for its final regular season game of the season on the road at Jacksonville State.
