Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- The Belmont women's basketball team (13-16, 10-6 OVC) saw its first matchup head into an extra period to be decided on Saturday afternoon in its regular season finale. The Bruins were held off at the buzzer in overtime at Jacksonville State (12-17, 8-8 OVC), 71-69.
The teams traded baskets for the opening eight minutes of the first stanza with Jacksonville State leaning heavily on Miranda Cantrell for inside scoring. The Bruins were sharp shooters all over the floor in the first half, firing at a 70 percent clip for much of the half, with points coming from juniors Jordyn Luffman (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) and Katie Carroll (Lilburn, Ga.), redshirt freshman Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.), and true freshman Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.).
BU kept maneuvering around and under the JSU defense and finding the bottom of the net to the tune of an 8-2 run that put them ahead, 23-18, by the 8:13 mark. The Gamecock bench called timeout in hopes of slowing the Bruins but BU did not let up. One minute later, Belmont grabbed its largest lead of the half, seven points, 25-18, behind another backdoor basket by junior Adrienne Tarrence (Bowling Green, Ky.) with the help of junior Taylor Mills (Corryton, Tenn.).
JSU caught a break around the five minute mark and used a trip to the stripe and a jumper to trim the BU lead to 25-22. However, the spark was short-lived as Belmont strategically used the clock to its advantage and became even stingier on the defensive end. The Gamecocks dug in their heels and worked to move within two, 29-27, by the 1:09 mark but were unable to do more before time expired, helping the Bruins carry the same point advantage into the locker room.
The Gamecocks opened the second half much more aggressively and by the 15:48 mark, they had regained the lead, 37-36, on a jumper by Destany McLin. A pair at the stripe by Carroll put Belmont back on top before the teams fell back into the trading baskets rhythm that marked the first stanza.
Tarrence made quick work of an and-one opportunity to knot the score at 47 with just over 10 and a half minutes left in regulation. However, the teams resumed their back-and-forth battle for the next two minutes with the squads only separated by one point. Finally, JSU put together an offensive flurry that put it on top by three, 54-51, with 7:13 left. The Gamecocks held on to the lead until a well-timed steal by Mills and crucial a triple from the top of the arc by Carroll put BU within two, 58-56, with 3:21 left on the clock. The teams remained locked in the same point differential for the next three minutes.
McLin missed a big opportunity at the line with 53 seconds left, missing the first of a bonus attempt at the stripe but BU was unable to handle the rebound and it rolled out of bounds. Both benches burned back-to-back timeouts to strategize in the waning seconds of regulation. Jacksonville State attempted to hold for the final shot but the ball rimmed out. Belmont fouled as it tried to rebound the ball but JSU was only able to make one of the free throws to go up, 59-56, with 23 seconds left. Belmont worked hard to bring the ball up the court on the next possession and Carroll stunned the Mathews Coliseum with a three pointer from the left side of the arc to knot the score at 59 with 15 ticks on the clock. The Gamecocks attempted to seal the win at the buzzer but the ball was shot too hard and the teams were forced into overtime.
In the extra period, both teams came out swinging and scored on each of their respective possessions until the score was knotted again, this time at 63 with three minutes left. Belmont grabbed a three-point lead, 67-64, on a pair of free throws by Tarrence with 1:24 left in overtime but JSU fired back with a jumper to make it a one-point game, 20 seconds later. The Gamecocks went on to grab a 69-67 lead on a three-point play conversion by McLin with just 23 seconds remaining in overtime but Luffman succeeded in drawing the foul and knocked down both to force the 10th tie of the afternoon, this time at 69 with 14 seconds left. JSU again wore the clock down and came up with two points with eight seconds on the clock. Belmont inbounded the ball and looked to draw the foul but time expired before the referees made the call, giving Jacksonville State the 71-69 win.
Jacksonville State shot 52.5 percent from the floor, 12.5 percent from three-point range and 57.1 percent from the free-throw line.
JSU was led in scoring by Destany McLin, who scored a game-high 31 points. Also reaching double figures were Briana Benson and Candace Morton, who contributed 13 and 10 points, respectively. Morton also notched a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Belmont shot 41.8 percent from the hardwood, 13.6 percent from behind the three-point arc and a blistering 90.9 percent from the charity stripe. The Bruins held the advantage in rebounds, 36, 35, assists, 14-12, steals, 8-4, and blocks, 1-0.
For the first time this season, five Bruins reached double digits. Luffman and Carroll each netted 15 points. Joubran picked up a double-double with a career-high matching 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Freshman Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) contributed 12 points Tarrence rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 points. Mills finished with a game-high seven assists.
Belmont returns to action at the OVC Tournament next week in Nashville.
