Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn.- The Belmont University women's basketball team (4-4) cruised to a 100-62 victory over Lipscomb (1-6) in the Franklin American Mortgage Battle of the Boulevard Tuesday evening at the Curb Event Center. Belmont's 100 points are the second most its scored at the Curb Event Center in program history.
Five Bruins scored in double figures, led by Darby Maggard's (Larwill, Ind.) 18 points as all 12 Belmont players to see the floor scored a point. Belmont shot a season-best 56.3% from the floor connecting on 36 of its 64 shots.
From late in the first to midway through the third quarter, Belmont connected on 10-consecutive three-point attempts while shooting an efficient 16-of-24 (66.7%) from three-point land for the game.
Joining Maggard in double figures was Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) who had an impressive game, registering 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting while dishing out a career-high six assists. Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) was the final member of Belmont's starting five to appear in double figures as she netted 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked four shots. Several Bruins played effectively coming off the bench, including junior Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) who scored a season-high 16 points which included a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point range. Redshirt-freshman Paris Lawson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) was red hot from beyond the arc as well, as she knocked down a career-high four triples in route to her career-high 12 points. Led by the strong efforts from Jones and Lawson, Belmont's bench outscored Lipscomb's, 48-23.
After playing six of seven games away from Nashville to start the season, Maggard relished in the opportunity to compete at home saying, "I love playing at home, this our gym and to be back out here at the Curb is amazing. I'm so thankful that we came out and played the way we did."
Maggard, Lawson and Jones combined to hit 11 three-pointers as eight different Bruins connected for a trey.
"As a team we've worked so hard, so it was really cool to see us play this way out there on the court tonight," said Jones.
After the score was tied at 4-4 with 7:07 on the clock in the first quarter, the Bruins surged ahead with a 9-0 run to grab a 13-4 lead over the Bisons with under four minutes remaining in the frame. The Bisons then countered with a 6-2 run to draw within five at 15-10 but Belmont ended the quarter on a 12-0 scoring spurt to claim a 27-10 lead after the first 10 minutes had expired. Maggard had the hot hand early, scoring seven points as Belmont shot above 60% from the field and from behind the arc. Belmont finished the quarter, knocking down four-straight three's as it caught fire from distance.
Belmont's exceptional shooting from deep continued on into the second quarter as it connected on six-straight three's in the quarter to run its total to 10-straight entering halftime. Belmont held a 53-27 lead at the intermission as it shot 19-of-31 (61.3%) from the field and an incredible 11-of-15 (73.3%) from three-point range. Three different Bruins shot a perfect 3-for-3 from distance in the first half as Maggard, Jones and Lawson all knocked down a trio of three's without missing the mark. Maggard led the way with 13 points at the break while Jones and Lawson added nine. Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) dished out five assist in the half which tied her career high.
"I felt really good out there tonight, but I felt even better knowing that my teammates were out there with me. We were just executing really well. All I did was take the open shots like I've been practicing, it was nice to see some go in," said Lawson.
Belmont's 53 first half points were its most since it poured in 53 vs. Murray State in January of last year.
In the third quarter, the Bruins continued their hotshooting, connecting on 9-of-16 from the field and grew their lead to 76-41 heading into the fourth. Thompson was the go-to scorer in the third, chipping in with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. At the 3:55 mark in the quarter, Belmont missed its first three-pointer since the 2:01 mark in the first quarter, after draining 10-straight from beyond the arc.
Belmont outscored Lipscomb, 24-21 in the final quarter as seven different players scored baskets in last 10 minutes. Senior Kia Perry (Gallatin, Tenn.) scored her first points of the season at the 4:50 mark in the quarter when she knocked down a pull-up three from the top of the key much to the delight of the Belmont crowd.
"Honestly my favorite three was Kia Perry's, coming off the screen and launching. It was amazing to see," said Maggard.
Hannah Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wis.) also scored her first points of the season in the victory as she netted five points in four minutes of action. The sophomore Roy, finished with a career-best six assists.
Alex Banks paced the Bisons with 18 points and seven boards.
The Bruins are 14-1 in their last 15 home games.
"It always means so much to play at home. The energy at the Curb is like nothing else," added Lawson.
The Bruins led for 36:03 and their largest lead was 40 points. Belmont's 26 assists were a season high, surpassing the previous high of 19.
Belmont has now won seven-straight matchups against Lipscomb as Tuesday marked the 73rd iteration of the series.
The Bruins continue their two-game home stand Friday, Dec. 2 when they host Trevecca for a special 11 a.m. tip off at the Curb Event Center.
Post Game Interviews:
Clip of All 16 Three-Pointers
