Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont women's basketball routed the Tennessee State Lady Tigers, 83-35, in its home and conference opener Thursday night at the Curb Event Center.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
With the victory, the Bruins (2-1, 1-0 OVC) extended their win streak in the Curb to 21 games dating back to the 2018-19 season.
Four different Belmont players logged double-figure points in the victory: Senior forward Madison Treece (13), junior guard Jamilyn Kinney (12), freshman guard Whitney Hay (12) and freshman guard Tuti Jones (11). Kinney and freshman guard Destinee Wells dished out a team-best seven assists each, while Jones tacked on seven steals.
Overall, the Bruins shot 50 percent from floor on the night and hit 16 3-pointers, its highest field goal percentage and 3-point total since Feb. 22, 2019. Belmont also shot 47 percent from deep range, its highest 3-point percentage since the 2020 OVC Tournament semifinal on March 6.
To add to their historic night, the Bruins notched 16 steals, their most since the 2011 season, as they turned the Lady Tigers over 25 times and dished out 24 assists. Belmont held Tennessee State to just 26 percent shooting from the floor on 13 made shots.
The Lady Tigers (0-3, 0-1 OVC) were led in scoring by the senior guard duo of Taylor Roberts and Andreana Wrister, who combined for 22 points and nine rebounds.
Jones, Kinney and junior forward Conley Chinn each drilled 3-pointers early in the first quarter to jump the Bruins out to a 13-6 lead at the 5:50 mark. Less than a minute later, Chinn and Kinney hit from deep once again to extend Belmont's advantage to 11 points. Tennessee State answered with a pair of buckets, but two 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the period gave the Bruins a 28-15 lead through 10 minutes.
The Lady Tigers opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer. but Belmont responded with a 10-0 run. The Bruins' streak was capped off by a 3-pointer from freshman guard Blair Schoenwald at the 3:57 mark. With just over one minute left in the period, Hay knocked down shot from beyond-the-arc to give Belmont a 41-20 advantage. Junior forward Allison Luly and Treece logged a pair of buckets in the paint to end the period, as the Bruins took a convincing 45-22 lead into the half.
At halftime, Jones and Kinney led Belmont with nine points each, as Chinn added eight points and three rebounds. Every player for the Bruins recorded a point before the end of the first half, as they forced 11 turnovers and shot 50 percent from 3-point range in the first two quarters.
Belmont kept its hot hand to begin the third period, as Luly, Treece and Jones each registered layups to boost the Bruin lead to 27 points. A jumper from Treece in the paint gave the Bruins a 53-27 lead over halfway through the quarter. Down the stretch, Hay hit a trio of 3-pointers, including a trey from Kinney, that cemented a 55-32 advantage for Belmont going into the final quarter of play.
Tennessee State would only make two shots in the fourth period, as the Bruins dominated the quarter both shooting the ball. Treece caught fire early on, as she laid in two shots in the first two minutes for Belmont. Sophomore guard Nikki Baird scored five consecutive points to open up what would become a 12-point run to end the game for the Bruins. Another 3-pointer from Schoenwald and a layup from freshman forward Madison Bartley iced the game for Belmont, 83-35.
In total, the Bruins received 37 points from the bench and won the battle of the boards by a 39-30 margin. The junior tandem of Cook and Luly led Belmont with a combined 15 rebounds from the bench. Every player on the team logged 10 or more minutes on the hardwood, as Kinney tabbed a team-high 27 minutes.
LARGE MARGIN: The Bruins' 48-point win Thursday was the highest point deficit in their series history with Tennessee State. Their next largest win in the series came on Feb. 24, 2018, when they recorded an 84-42 victory at home.
HOME DOMINANCE: Belmont tallied its 12th consecutive win over the Lady Tigers at the Curb Event Center Thursday. The Bruins are now 38-3 at home under Bart Brooks, as they have lost just one home game to a conference opponent since 2015.
FRESHMEN BALLING: Belmont received 37 points from its freshman class Thursday evening, which marks its second straight game with 30-plus points from freshmen. The Bruins' newcomers poured in 31 points against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 6.
UP NEXT: Belmont stays in the Music City for a rematch of its 2019-20 thriller against the Marquette Golden Eagles Sunday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Curb Event Center.
