Box Score MARTIN, Tenn. - In a game of ups and downs for both teams, the Belmont University women's basketball team (18-8, 10-3 OVC) fell to the University of Tennessee Martin (18-8, 11-2 OVC) Monday afternoon, 81-79.
"I am very proud of the effort and resilience our ladies showed today in a tough environment," said head coach Cameron Newbauer. "We learned a great deal about ourselves today in this game, even though the outcome wasn't what we hoped for, I am confident that this group will grow from this experience."
After falling behind by double figures early, the Bruins stormed back with an electrifying display of inside scoring and perimeter shooting for a national television audience on ESPNU.
"We were a little sped up in the first quarter, but kept fighting and worked through Martin's runs to pus us in a position to win the game," said Maggard. "We shot the ball really well, and outrebounded them by over 20 boards which is a testament to our overall effort. I am proud of how we competed out there."
A seesaw affair ensued, with the host Skyhawks seizing an eight point lead in the final three minutes. But courageous play from freshman Darby Maggard (Lawrill, Ind.) and redshirt sophomore Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) got Belmont within 80-79 with 14 seconds left.
After one Skyhawk free throw and a Bruin timeout, Belmont turned to Maggard for a potential game-winning three-pointer at the horn, but the shot narrowly missed.
Despite outrebounding the Skyhawks 45-to-24 and shooting 50 percent from three, the Bruins were unable snap UT Martin's home court win streak in league play.
"After being down by 17 in the first quarter we fought back and made it a game, I am very proud of my team," said Smith. "We out rebounded them and show over 50 percent, not if we just have to tighten up on our turnovers. We can only get better from here."
Maggard led the Bruins with a career-high 26 points going 8-for-13 from three falling one short of tying the all-time single game record. Smith recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. McCabe added 15 points and six rebounds on the afternoon.
The team as a whole assisted on 20 of the 30 made field goals.
"We showed our youth at times and need to sharpen up on some of our decision making in pressure situations," added Newbauer. " It is all about the process of getting better each day, and even though we lost the game we got better as a team today."
The first half proved to be two separate games. UT Martin put up 31 in the first quarter with Belmont only putting 17 on the board. However the second quarter was a reversal of the first as the Bruins put up 31 and the Skyhawks only 16.
UT Martin started off strong on defense implementing a full court press from the tip. Skyhawks opened up play with a 13-to-3 run, the Bruins only basket came from McCabe. Thompson and Smith put up the next five points for Belmont, but Martin responded with the next six. Jones sunk two free throws but another eight straight from the Skyhawks put them up 27-10. Bruins started to find ways around the Skyhawks aggressive defense, holding them to only four points in the last four minutes, while the Bruins posted seven.
The rolls reversed in the second quarter as the Bruins opened up play on a 15-to-5 run which brought them within four. In that run five players contributed Harmeyer (3), Joubran (2), Maggard (3), McCabe (4) and Smith (3). Both teams traded baskets but a 10-to-2 run from Belmont had the Bruins up by one when they went into the half.
Thompson and McCabe both hit a layup to open the third quarter. Martin posted five straight points to retake the lead 54-52. Back-to-back threes from Maggard gave the Bruins a four-point advantage once again. The two teams traded baskets but despite a third three from Maggard in the quarter the Skyhawks went on an 8-to-3 run to go up by four at the end of the third.
Belmont returns home Saturday, Jan. 20 to face Tennessee Tech in the final home game of the season. The team will recognize senior Natalie Cohlmeyer (Evansville, Ind.) for her successes and attributions to the team in her final game at the Curb Event Center.
