Box Score CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Despite two career-highs from senior Natalie Cohlmeyer (Evansville, Ind.) and a career-high tying performance from redshirt sophomore Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) the Belmont Women's Basketball team (8-6) fell to Southeast Missouri (8-6) 81-74.
The Bruins had five players in double-digit points. Sophomore Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) led the offense with 17, followed by freshman Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) with 14, Smith with 12, sophomore Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) with 11 and Cohlmeyer with a career-high 11 points. Smith, McCabe and junior Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) combined for 26 of the teams 38 rebounds.
Cohlmeyer notched a career-high 11 points with a career-high three three-pointers, while Smith tied a career-high with five threes.
Maggard came out strong to start the first quarter hitting back-to-back threes. Thompson, Smith and McCabe all added two to the tally, but despite 10 rebounds the Bruins were unable to convert in the second half of the first quarter. Joubran led the team with three rebounds to start the game.
McCabe ended Belmont's drought dropping a lay-up and one to start the second quarter.
This followed by two straight threes from Cohlmeyer ignited an 8-0 run for Belmont tying the game at 23.
In the heart of the second quarter Belmont went on a 15-3 run putting up seven for nine field goals. Cohlmeyer added another five points during the run.
A jumper from Smith and two free throws made by Maggard ended the half with Belmont down by two, 36-34, after trailing by eight with seven minutes left in the first half.
SEMO took the first five of the second half but back-to-back baskets from McCabe and Smith brought Belmont back within two.
Smith sunk two straight which pulled the Bruins back within two 45-47.
Joubran draws the foul and stepped up to the line. Joubran missed the second free throw but with aggressive defense snagged the rebound, tossed it back to Maggard who converted for three. Maggard notched a second three, which gave Belmont the lead 52-20.
SEMO ended the third quarter on an 11-0 run.
Freshman Ellie Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wisc.) stepped up to the line and sunk two free throws but SEMO continued to fire from three and held the lead.
Bruins went on a 6-0 run with Smith and Jones hitting threes, trailing 75-65. A jumper from McCabe followed by a three from Jones pulled the Bruins within seven.
Despite going 5-for-5 on the last stretch of the game Belmont could not regain the lead and fell to the Redhawks 81-76.
Bruins complete their six-game road stretch at SIU Edwardsville on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Tip-off is set for 7pm CT. Live stats, video, and audio feed will be available at belmontbruins.com.
