Box Score GREEN BAY, Wis.- In a hostile road environment against one of the nation's best mid-major programs Belmont fell 66-62, to Green Bay, Tuesday night in Wisconsin. Despite leading by as many as 12, and as many as seven in the fourth quarter, the Bruins were unable to fend off a late rally by the host Phoenix.
Freshman guard Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) led a group of four double-digit scorers, pacing BU with 16 points. Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) finished with 15 points, while Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) each scored 10, respectively. Joubran collected 11 rebounds as well, to nab her first double double of the season.
"We played a really good team, in a tough environment here with probably over 2,000 fans. You're talking about a team in Green Bay that's won the league 18-19 years in a row, just a great program. Hats off to them, I have a lot of respect for them, they earned that win tonight," said Head Coach Cameron Newbauer after the hard-fought loss.
The Bruins held a 56-49 edge with 7:30 remaining after a Joubran lay in. Green Bay stormed back to score six-straight points to cut the Bruins' lead to one. At the 4:46 mark in the fourth quarter Green Bay scored to lead 57-56, and grabbed its first advantage since the early second half. Belmont found McCabe on the ensuing possession to jump back ahead 58-57 with just a shade over four minutes remaining. A GB free throw tied it at 58-58, and the score remained tied with under three minutes remaining. A crucial play occurred at the 2:16 mark when Smith blocked Green Bay's Mehryn Kraker drive to the hoop, but Kraker somehow saved the ball from going out of bounds and fortuitously found teammate Jessica Lindstrom under the basket. Lindstrom converted the layup, plus the foul and knocked down the free throw to make 61-58 in favor of the Phoenix. From this point forward, Green Bay would not relinquish its lead, but Belmont did trail by just one with under 1:58 to play.
BU led for over 23:12 while Green Bay was ahead for just 8:16 and its largest lead of six occurred with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation. There were 13 lead changes and seven ties in the game.
Belmont came out scorching hot in the third quarter as it started off the second half 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Belmont led 43-37 at the 4:48 mark in the third quarter. After a media timeout Jones converted an old fashioned three-point play to make it 46-37 BU. Belmont's run grew to 11-0 and its largest lead was 12 at 49-37 with 2:31 remaining in the third. Green Bay would get back into it, along with its home crowd, as it closed the frame on a 9-1 run to cut the BU lead to 50-46 at the end of three. Maggard scored nine points in the allotted 10 minutes, as she cashed in on three 3-pointers.
Belmont held a 20-16 lead after the first quarter as Smith found her groove from beyond the arc. The Vanderbilt transfer converted her first three 3-pointers as she connected on two of them from the left corner in nearly the same spot. Ellie Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wis.) also was quite effective early as she scored seven points in the first frame and provided some energy off the bench.
Green Bay scored seven straight to open the second quarter, scoring on a pair of long outlet passes and a 3-pointer to jump back ahead. BU answered with seven straight of its own, highlighted by a pair of smooth jumpers from Maggard and held a 27-23 advantage at the 4:36 mark of the second quarter. Green Bay responded again as it scored six straight, pushing the tempo and earning a 29-27 advantage with 3:21 to play. After Coach Newbauer settled things down with a timeout, Belmont responded with a 5-0 capped off by a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Jones with just over a minute remaining in the half. Kraker matched the Jones triple to tie at 32-32, and that's what the scoreboard would read heading into the intermission.
Green Bay's first half success was due in large part due to its ability to score in transition as it scored eight fast breaks point. When set in its half court defense, however, Belmont was quite effective in limiting the looks of the Phoenix. Belmont grabbed six steals in the first half, Smith accounted for three of them. Belmont's six first half steals were more than they notched in the each of the past three games. The Bruins, one of the nation's best rebounding units, were outboarded 19-16 by the Phoenix, keeping in mind though, that Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) played just four first half minutes due to foul trouble.
"We did a good job of getting up on them but late in the game they came back and fought. Overall our effort and our intensity tonight was great we played really hard and left it all on the floor. I'm just proud of our team and our kids," added Newbauer.
Kraker, one of three double-digit scorers for Green Bay, finished with a game-high 22 points.
Maggard and Jones were key players in the second half as the backcourt duo combined for 21 points in the second half and five 3-pointers.
In addition to her 10 points Smith did a nice job of facilitating from the forward position as she tallied a game-high five assists. The red-shirt sophomore also registered a career-high four steals.
Belmont's eight steals were its most since Nov. 24 when it recorded the same number of thefts against Alabama A&M.
The Bruins won the rebound battle 36-33. BU finished 41.5% from the field while Green Bay finished at a 41.8% clip.
Belmont connected on 11 3-pointers which is more than it converted in the previous two games combined, Tuesday night marked the first time that Belmont has made at least seven 3-pointers and lost. (6-1)
The Bruins have dropped three games in a row, but all three losses have been on the road by single digits and against teams pegged to finish towards the tops of their respective conferences.
After a holiday break, the Bruins return to action Tuesday, Dec. 29 at Western Kentucky where they continue their season-long six-game road swing.
