Box Score
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A game-winning layup from senior Ellie Harmeyer with 1.4 seconds remaining lifted the Belmont Bruins over the Austin Peay Governors, 53-52, Saturday afternoon at the Dunn Center.
Harmeyer fueled the Bruins (12-7, 7-1 OVC) with her fourth-straight double-double of 22 points and 17 rebounds. Harmeyer also went a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe to lead Belmont to its fourth-consecutive win.
Sophomore Jamilyn Kinney chipped in eight points and five rebounds, as she tied her career-high in steals (3). Kinney dished out a team-high five assists, while nine different players scored on the day for the Bruins.
Three players posted double-figure points for the Governors (11-8, 2-6 OVC), as freshman Ella Sawyer led Austin Peay with 15 points.
Senior Maura Muensterman knocked down a 3-pointer to give Belmont an early lead just over a minute into the first quarter of play. The Bruins would not regain the lead until the 3:15 mark of the period on a fastbreak layup from Kinney to go up 9-8. Sophomore Allison Luly scored consecutive buckets for Belmont to end the quarter, which gave the Bruins a 13-12 advantage through 10 minutes.
Harmeyer logged 10-straight points for Belmont to open the second period, as the Bruins took a 25-17 lead with six minutes left in the half. The Governors cut the deficit back down to one possession, but freshman Kiki Britzmann nailed a 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining to keep a 28-22 Belmont advantage. The Bruins would not score for the remainder of the half. Still, Belmont went into the halftime break up 30-26.
Belmont held Austin Peay below 20 percent shooting in the first half, as it received an early double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds from Harmeyer. The Bruins won the battle of the boards by a 26-18 margin through 20 minutes.
The Governors opened the third quarter with an 8-4 run to take the lead at the 5:57 mark. However, Belmont responded with an 7-0 run of its own to take a 44-36 lead with less than four minutes left. A pair of free throws from Kinney at the two-minute mark increased the Bruin lead to double-digits. Austin Peay closed the gap to end the period, but Belmont still held a 47-44 advantage after three quarters.
Just a minute and a half into the final period, the Governors hit a 3-pointer to take a 50-49 lead. Following nearly six minutes of scoreless action, Harmeyer wrestled the lead back for Belmont at the foul line. The Governors hit a jumpshot at the elbow to take a 52-51 lead with 17 seconds left, as the Bruins advanced the ball to halfcourt with a timeout. Harmeyer slashed her way through the Austin Peay defense and hit a contested layup to give Belmont the lead, and the eventual victory.
Britzmann, Luly and sophomore Maddie Cook combined for nine points from the bench for the Bruins. Meanwhile, Muensterman and sophomore Conley Chinn meshed for 12 points and five rebounds as starters. Overall, Belmont outrebounded the Governors 41-32, as it gave up just 21 defensive rebounds all game.
SUFFOCATING DEFENSE: The Bruins have held nine of their last 10 opponents below 33 percent shooting from the field.
PAINT DOMINATION: With 26 points in the paint Saturday, Belmont has scored 25 or more points in the paint in each of the last four contests.
FREIGHT TRAIN: With 22 points and 17 rebounds against Austin Peay, Ellie Harmeyer has recorded six 20-point double-doubles this season. She has also accomplished the feat in each of the last two games, with an average of 24 points and 17.5 rebounds per game this week.
UP NEXT: The Bruins finish out their four-game road stint next week at Tennessee Tech Thursday and Jacksonville State Saturday. Tip-offs are set for 5 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. respectively.
QUOTES:
Ellie Harmeyer, Senior Forward
"It took toughness to win this one. I think our team did a great job of showing how tough we were at the end of the game. We have been working extremely hard in the last two practices. Austin Peay is a great team, they always have been, but our team was really tough in the last few minutes of that game."
"I heard the clock going down and my teammates were screaming, so I thought, 'Well, if I have the ball and I get a lane, I am going.' Honestly, I was not really sure what I was thinking in the moment, but it went in and I am glad it did."
