Box Score RICHMOND, Ky. – Belmont University women's basketball (20-8, 12-3 OVC) defeated Eastern Kentucky (15-11, 9-6 OVC) Wednesday evening 65-51.
"Road games are always a challenge but one thing I love about this team is we keep fighting no matter how we are playing and we showed that tonight. We are one!" said Jones.
Junior Lauren Thompson (Franklin, Tenn.) led the Bruins with 16 points, adding seven rebounds. Two other Bruins recorded double-digit points, sophomore Sierra Jones (Huntsville, Ala.) posted 10 points along with eight rebounds, and redshirt sophomore Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) rounded out the offense and defense with a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bruins and Colonels opened play with a layup each. Belmont went on a 9-to-2 run to follow, with four Bruins posting points; sophomore Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) had two, Thompson (2), Smith (2) and freshman Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) (3). Both teams traded baskets to close out the first quarter as the Bruins closed it out with a 10-point lead.
Eastern Kentucky opened up the second quarter on a seven-point run. Smith ended that run when she hit a huge three to put the Bruins back up by six. Both teams battled for points but another eight-points run, highlighted by another three from Smith, put Belmont back up by 10. The two teams traded baskets to close out the first half.
Colonels opened the second half on a 6-to-2 run coming within three of the Bruins, but another three from Smith kept Belmont on top.
After a jumper from Eastern Kentucky, the Bruins went on an 8-to-2 run to close out the third quarter, junior Frankie Joubran (Detroit, Mich.) posted half of the points in the run.
Belmont started the final quarter on a 6-to-2 run; Maggard, freshman Ellie Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wis.) and Thompson each scored two. Both teams battled for points, and the Colonels started to foul with a minute left to play but four free throws from Jones and one from McCabe held the Bruins lead until the end. Belmont closed out the game 65-51.
"It was definitely a really physical game but I am so proud of our team for toughing it out and fighting through the physicality to pull out the win," said Thompson. "We just had to keep playing our game and keep being physical in order to compete. It was a really great team effort!"
The Bruins close out the regular season at crosstown rival Tennessee State on Sunday, Feb. 28 at noon.
