Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 24/RV Belmont women's basketball made a statement in its debut as a nationally-ranked squad, routing Eastern Kentucky, 95-62, on Thursday night inside the Curb Event Center. The veteran duo of Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) combined for 49 points as the Bruins notched their 40th straight OVC victory.
The team turned in a complete performance, shooting 50 percent from the floor and draining 14 threes while only relinquishing two turnovers to extend their winning streak to 16 games. Maggard led the scoring efforts with 26 points, going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. She was joined by Smith's 23 points along with a pair of 12-point outings from senior center Sally McCabe (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and junior guard Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.). Roy also collected 10 boards for her fourth double-double of the season.
Eastern Kentucky (8-16, 5-10) was charged by 22 points and nine rebounds from Abby Wright. She was followed by A'Queen Hayes (15 points) and Shay Solomon (10 points, five assists) as the Colonels were held to 37 percent shooting on the night. Belmont (25-3, 15-0) also edged EKU in rebounds (40-32), points in the paint (32-24) and bench points (22-5).
Belmont fired on all cylinders in the opening half, throwing in 11 three-pointers to take a commanding lead from the get go. The Bruins started their frenzy by making their first four scoring possessions of the game in the form of a three-point play. With three different players draining a triple, the squad jetted out to a 14-5 advantage in the first five minutes of play. Eastern Kentucky regained composure and sunk their next seven consecutive field goals to make it an eight-point game at the break, 29-21, in favor of BU.
Junior guard Maura Muensterman (Evansville, Ind.) joined in on the long-range shooting with a three of her own to start the second stanza, marking the team's seventh of the game. EKU remained within striking distance until Maggard went on an 11-0 run of her own over a two-minute span that featured three treys. Hayes ended the run with a three and 2:30 remaining in the half, but the damage was done as the Bruins led 50-30. Collectively, the squad posted a 19-6 run to close out the half and go up, 55-33, on the Colonels.
The third quarter got out to a slower start with Roy tallying the Bruins first points nearly three minutes into the frame while EKU poured in seven during the same span. The lull would quickly come to a halt as Maggard buried a deep three that sparked a 9-0 run for Belmont. After a Colonel jumper interrupted the scoring streak, the Bruins got back on track pouring in another six unanswered points to take a 71-44 lead on Eastern Kentucky with 2:35 left in the period. BU held a 76-48 advantage with the fourth quarter remaining.
Muensterman once again hit a three-pointer to open the final stanza of play, recording the squad's 14th of the game. From then on the Bruins continued to lay it on the Colonels, including sinking six free throws down the stretch. Sophomore forward Maddie Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) rolled in Belmont's 91st point with 2:29 remaining in the game, pushing BU past the 90-point threshold for the sixth time this season. Junior guard Hannah Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wisc.) put on the final touches by sinking a pair of shots from the charity stripe, keeping her perfect at the line this season (8-for-8).
GAME NOTES
- Belmont extends its winning streak to 16 games, the fifth longest streak in the nation.
- The Bruins have won their last 40 consecutive OVC games, boasting the second longest streak in the nation behind No. 1 UConn (94).
- This marks the second-straight season that BU as won at least 25 games. It's 25-3 record is its best since 1993-94.
- BU has won its last ten meetings with EKU, moving the all-time series record to 18-3.
- Belmont's No. 24 ranking in the AP poll is its first-ever appearance in the Top-25 and the first of any BU program.
- Tonight's 95-point performance marked the sixth time this season that the Bruins have poured in at least 90 points. It's the first time in the Division I era that BU has scored 90 points six times in a single season.
- Belmont's 14 threes mark the third time this season that the team has drained 14+ triples in a single game.
UP NEXT
Belmont returns to the Curb Event Center on Saturday, Feb. 17 to take on Morehead State.
