Box Score
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For a second straight game the Belmont women's basketball team poured it on after halftime to turn a close one into a blowout, topping Eastern Kentucky 69-43 on Saturday in Ohio Valley Conference play.
It's Belmont's second straight win, both by 26 points or more, and closes out a season-long four-game homestand. The Bruins are now 10-5 overall with a 3-1 mark in OVC games.
Despite an unattractive overall record, Eastern Kentucky (2-13, 0-4 OVC) came out with a spark to keep the game close through the first half. The favored Bruins led by just four points, 33-29, at halftime but buckled down to close the contest on a 38-14 run.
Much of that early parity was due to EKU's pluck, especially in the first quarter. Teams tend to bring their best to the Curb Event Center knowing they're facing the three-time defending OVC champions.
"We expect that from everybody, especially in league," said Belmont senior Maura Muensterman (Evansville, Ind.), who led all players with 17 points. "Credit to them; they came out with a lot of energy and played great."
Belmont not only found its shooting stroke after the break, but the Bruins' defense clamped down in a fierce way. The Colonels shot 25 percent from the field over the final three quarters while falling off the pace.
"I think we responded well to a pretty flat start, which was huge,"Muensterman said. "Everyone that was in the game responded with a lot more energy in the second half and I think that's really reflective of who we are."
Muensterman matched a season high with five 3-pointers on her way to 17 points. She has now scored 12 or more points in three straight games and four of the last five overall.
She was one of four Bruins in double figures scoring Saturday, the second straight game Belmont has achieved the feat.
Senior Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) scored 13 points with five assists, junior Ellie Harmeyer (Kenosha, Wis.) scored 12 on the strength of her free-throw shooting and senior Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) had 10 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Up Next: Belmont heads back out on the road to visit Jacksonville State next Thursday. The Bruins beat the Gamecocks 66-52 at the Curb to open OVC play on Jan. 3.
