Box Score COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In their first overtime game of the season Belmont University women's basketball (14-7, 6-2 OVC) defeated Tennessee Tech (7-16, 3-7 OVC) in double overtime 80-79. Freshman Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) recorded the game winning jumper, along with a team high 20 points on the evening.
"We are super excited and it feels great to play a double overtime and get a victory," said Smith.
"It was amazing to battle like that with these girls, I am so proud of them," added Maggard. "There are many times we could have taken the adversity and let down but we kept fighting and pulled through."
Three other players finished the evening with double-digit points, redshirt sophomore Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) had 18, followed by junior Sierra Jones (Huntsville Ala.) with 12, and freshman Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) with 10.
Sophomore Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and Junior Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) each recorded double-digit rebounds on the evening.
Belmont started out strong taking the first five points of the contest, holding Tech to a two minute scoring drought to start the evening. Roy put up five of the Bruins first seven points but at 7-2 Tech went on an 8-0 run to go up 10-7. Maggard hit a three, followed by seven straight from the Bruins put them up 17-13. Tech retaliated with the last four points leaving the two teams locked in at 17 at the end of the first quarter. Roy and Jones paced the Bruins in the first quarter with five points each.
Bruins opened the second quarter on an 8-2 and took a four point lead. Both teams traded baskets but another huge 9-2 run put Belmont up by 10. Tennessee Tech hit a three as the clock ran out leaving Belmont up 36-29 at half. Maggard knocked down six points and Roy with four in the second quarter.
Two early three's from Smith held the Bruins lead to nine within the first minute of the second half. Tech took the next three points but back-to-back layups from Joubran and Harmeyer put Belmont up by 10 once again. It was all Tech for the majority of the quarter, two free throws from Jones brought the Bruins back within one, but a last second layup from Tech had the Bruins behind by three to end the third quarter.
Four lead changes in the fourth quarter led to an overtime result. Both teams knocked down a layup to start the fourth quarter. Back-to-back threes from Jones and Maggard gave the Bruins a three point lead. Tech responded with the next five points to once again take the lead. A huge three from Maggard with two minutes left pushed the Bruins ahead by one once again. Tech would knock down two free throws but Roy closed their lead with a free throw which tied it at 60 with 1:21 to play. Both teams had chances to knock down the last field goal; neither was successful, leaving the fourth quarter tied at 60.
Smith and Joubran jumped out early with a layup each which gave the Bruins a four point advantage. Tech retaliated by taking the next six to take a two point lead. Smith hit a crucial three with one minute left which put the Bruins up 67-66.
With 4.8 seconds left an out of bounds ball was called in the favor of the Golden Eagles but after further review the call was reversed. Belmont would take the ball at half court up by one with less than five seconds to play.
After multiple fouls McCabe stepped up to the line knocking both down which gave the Bruins a three point advantage with three second left to play.
Tech did not back down as they hit a three on the inbound pass to tie the game at 69.
Tech jumped out to an early four point lead in the second overtime.
Two made free throws from Smith cut the Golden Eagle lead to two. Tech hit two free throws and went up by four but two more free throws from Smith had the Bruins trailing by only two and two free throws from Joubran tied the game once again.
Tech hit two free throws and took the lead but a massive three from Maggard gave the Bruins a one point advantage. Tech hit a jumper but another clutch play from Maggard left Belmont with the advantage, and only nine seconds to play.
"It felt great to get that last shot up, I was happy to be put into a position to hopefully win the game," said Maggard. "It all came down to the last defensive effort from our whole team. We communicated and bonded together and being out there together was awesome."
Belmont returns home Wednesday, Jan. 3 against Morehead State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
