Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif.- Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) and Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) combined for 56 points, and the Belmont University women's basketball team ended its West Coast travels on a high note with a 79-72 victory over Loyola Marymount in the final game of the 19th annual LMU Thanksgiving Classic.
Smith and Maggard, the only two Bruins in double figures, each recorded career highs as Smith poured in 29 points while Maggard scored 27. The redshirt-junior Smith finished 8-of-14 from the field and tied a career high with nine free throws scores. Maggard finished 7-of-14 from the field, including six three-pointers and dished out nine assists.
Maggard was named to the LMU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team following the game.
Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) brought in a career-high 14 rebounds and finished with five points and Belmont knocked down a season-high 12 three-pointers in the victory, snapping a two-game losing streak.
After a slow start in yesterday's first quarter vs. Fresno State, the Bruins came out scorching hot from the field on Saturday as they shot an efficient 62.5% in the first 10 minutes knocking down 10 of their first 16 shots. The Bruin backcourt played very well in the first as Smith and Maggard combined for 21 first quarter points. Smith connected on all five of her shot attempts in the frame and scored 11 while Maggard recorded 10 points including a pair of treys. Belmont led 25-15 after the first quarter as it got off to the strong start it was in need of.
The Lions clawed their way back into things in the second quarter though as they used a 10-0 run to trim the Bruin lead to just 33-31 with under four minutes to play in the half. LMU would draw within one at 35-34 with 3:31 remaining, but back came Belmont with an 8-0 run of its own as a Maggard triple put the Bruins ahead 43-34 with under two minutes to go. Heading into the half the Bruins held a 43-36 lead after shooting an even and crisp 50% (17-of-34) from the floor. The dynamic back court duo of Smith and Maggard finished the half with 27 points between the pair, knocking down a collective five three-pointers. The sophomore floor general, Maggard, also dished out six first half assists.
The Bruins' 43 first half points were the second most they have scored on the year, second only to their 46 at UAB.
Belmont held LMU scoreless for the first the first 4:40 of the second half while scoring eight points during that time, good for an 8-0 run. Belmont's lead then expanded to 51-36 with just under six minutes remaining in the quarter. The Bruins outscored LMU, 19-12 in the third period and carried a 62-48 edge heading into the final quarter of play.
LMU closed in on Belmont with a 7-0 run to open the fourth quarter, holding the Bruins scoreless for over four minutes. Belmont started off 0-8 from the field in the final stanza as LMU trimmed the gap to just 63-57 with under five minutes to go. After LMU narrowed the gap to just four, Maggard's fifth three-pointer of the game gave the Bruins a 66-59 lead with 4:05 on the clock. A pair of Maggard three-pointers accounted for the only two Belmont field goals of the quarter as it managed to hold off the Lions despite being outscored 24-17.
At the 6:14 mark in the second quarter Ellie Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wis.) scored her first points of the season, drilling a three-pointer from the top of the key.
BU's victory over Loyola Marymount marked its first victory in the state of California since 2002.
Belmont outrebounded LMU by a substantial margin, snagging 50 boards to the Lions' 30. The Bruins assisted on 17 of their 24 field goals.
Jackie Johnson paced LMU with 18 points and 12 boards.
Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) finished with seven rebounds and three blocks in her return to the starting lineup.
Saturday concluded a stretch of six of seven games away from Nashville for Belmont to open the season, and it now will play three of its next five contests at home.
The Bruins next return to the hardwood Tuesday, Nov. 29 when they host Lipscomb for the Franklin American Mortgage Battle of the Boulevard at the Curb Event Center. Tip off is set for 5 p.m. Central time as the Bruins battle the Bisons in the first of two home games next week for Belmont.
