Box Score CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.- The Belmont University women's basketball team (8-2) saw its six-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Chattanooga Mocs, as it fell 53-62 Wednesday afternoon in Chattanooga.
Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) paced Belmont with a 14 point, six rebound performance. Sierra Jones (Hunstville, Ala.) played very well as she scored eight point and tied a career high with eight rebounds. Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) also finished with eight and added six rebounds and four assists.
Both BU's losses this season have occurred against teams currently ranked in the RPI top 30.
Belmont and Chattanooga (6-4) battled back and forth all game, and BU was within striking distance for the duration. The Bruins held a lead for over eight minutes, led at points in the third quarter, and faced just 47-44 heading into the fourth quarter.
The first quarter of action featured a pair of runs, one by each squad. Runs ended up being the story Wednesday afternoon. Belmont utilized a 10-0 run highlighted by three pointers from Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) and Smith, to jump out to a 14-6 lead. Chattanooga would answer though as it trimmed the BU lead to just 14-12 to close the frame.
Chattanooga continued its scoring run into the second quarter, as at its peak, the run grew to 19-2 in favor of the Mocs. At this point in the game BU trailed 25-16 but showed some serious fight as it answered with a run of its own to counter the Mocs' attack. The Bruins finished the half on a 14-7 run to narrow the gap to just 32-30 at the intermission. The first half featured a back-and-forth pace as each team exerted their will only to be answered by the opposition.
The third quarter mirrored the competitive action featured in the first half, as Belmont was the aggressor early on in the frame and jumped out to a 35-34 lead. Chattanooga would jump ahead and lead by as many as seven in the quarter though. BU faced a 45-38 deficit in the mid-to-late third quarter, but looked to Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) who scored on consecutive trips to cut the lead to 45-44. BU finished the stanza trailing by just three at 47-44.
Chattanooga won the war of attrition as it was able to put its foot on the gas late in the game, and got out to its largest lead of 11 in the final quarter. The Mocs opened up the fourth with a 6-0 run and did not look back as BU was able to battle within six ponts at the 6:33 mark, but but that is as close as it would get from that point on.
Moses Johnson paced Chattanooga with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Belmont outrebounded the Mocs 36-34 and outscored Chattanooga 28-26 in the paint.
The Bruins face a quick turnaround as they head to IUPUI Friday, Dec. 18 for a clash with the Jaguars. Tip off in Indianapolis is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
