Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind.- Paced by a game-high 15 points from junior Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) the Belmont University women's basketball team opened its 2016-17 campaign with a 85-59 victory over Fort Wayne, Friday afternoon at Gates Sports Center.
All five Belmont starters scored in double digits as Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) registered 14 points, Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) recorded 12, and both Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) chipped in with 10.
The Bruins shot 46% (29-63) from the field and 38.5% (10-26) on three-pointers and outrebounded Fort Wayne by a margin of 45-32. Ten of the 11 Bruins to appear in the game, scored.
The unofficial homecoming for sophomore guard Maggard and Head Coach Cameron Newbauer was a success. Maggard attended Fort Wayne Canterbury High School where she had a tremendous career and Newbauer, a 2001 graduate of Fort Wayne, broke into coaching in Fort Wayne.
Maggard and Newbauer were the subject of this article Journal Gazette Recap
"It was an amazing experience to be able and come back and play in front of so many familiar faces. A lot of people from Canterbury came out today, and honestly I'm just incredibly thankful for all the support," said Maggard. "It was such a blessing to get to come to a place that's not your home arena and get this kind of support, it was awesome. Coach Cam and I both have amazing families and for them to come out and support us is really great."
Fort Wayne jumped out to an early 4-3 advantage in the first quarter, but Smith's personal 7-0 scoring run gave the Bruins an 11-3 lead at the first media time out with 4:45 to play. Belmont's opening quarter run stretched to 10-0 after a Maggard triple. The Bruins entered the second stanza up 16-5, a lead that they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the contest.
A Belmont scoring run was the story of the second quarter as well. The Mastadons trimmed Belmont's lead to single digits at 27-18 with 3:32 remaining in the frame, but the Bruins would storm back for eight unanswered points to take control of the game. The run started with a three from Smith, followed by a triple from Maura Muensterman (Evansville, Ind.) and concluded with a lay in from Maggard. From this point forward, Belmont would never allow Fort Wayne to bring the score within single digits. At the half, Belmont led, 37-20, as Smith highlighted the scoring efforts with 10 points. Roy checked in with nine and Maggard seven. All nine of Roy's points came in the second quarter.
"I think we came out a little amped because it was our first game, but we were able to settle in. In the beginning we took some quick threes, but as the game went on we started getting the ball inside and working the ball around, and that helped us get settled," added Maggard.
The Bruins came out in the second half strong as they opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run. Belmont outscored its counterpart 25-16 in the third and scored 14 points in the paint. McCabe was excellent in the quarter, pouring in 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. The junior post player also grabbed four boards in the frame. Heading into the fourth quarter Belmont carried a 62-36 edge.
In the fourth quarter the teams would play to an even 23-23 tally, as the Mastadons found themselves within 20, but never posed a severe threat to Belmont.
Playing her first collegiate game, Maddie Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) scored nine points to lead the Bruin bench. Muensterman chipped in with six points as she knocked down a pair of three's in her Bruin debut and senior Frankie Joubran (Goodrich, Mich.) grabbed a game-high seven boards.
After the game concluded Newbauer and Maggard were showered by friends and family in the halls of the Gates Sports Center.
"It was really exciting. A couple high school coaches and teachers showed up that I had no idea were coming. All these people have helped me live out a dream, and I am very appreciative of that. It's really cool to open a season and get a win in front of them in person. I couldn't be more thankful and grateful for this opportunity to compete," said Newbauer.
The Bruins face a quick turnaround as they return to action Sunday, Nov. 13 when they travel to No. 5/8 Louisville.
