Box Score MARTIN, Tenn. – Despite a fourth quarter rally, Belmont women's basketball narrowly fell to the UT Martin Skyhawks, 66-63, at the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center Tuesday evening.
Four separate Bruins tallied double-figure points for the third time this year, as the OVC Freshman of the Week, guard Destinee Wells, posted a team-high 19 points. Wells added a season-best six rebounds, while junior forward Conley Chinn, junior guard Jamilyn Kinney and freshman guard Tuti Jones all registered 11 points apiece.
In total, Belmont (6-4, 3-2 OVC) hit 14 3-pointers at a 39 percent clip, dished out 16 assists and out-rebounded the Skyhawks by a 38-36 margin. The Bruins finished with 12 offensive boards and 16 second chance points on the night.
UT Martin (8-3, 7-1 OVC) was fueled by senior forward Chelsey Perry, who logged 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. Fellow senior forward Maddie Waldrop chipped in a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds.
A jumper from junior guard Maddie Cook boosted Belmont out to an early 4-2 lead through the first two minutes of the game. After trading buckets with the Skyhawks, Jones drilled a 3-pointer to extend the Bruins' advantage to three points. UT Martin battled back to take the lead minutes later, but a trio of 3-pointers from Belmont in the final four minutes put them in front, 22-16, after one period.
Junior forward Allison Luly kicked off the scoring in the second quarter, as her layup extended the Bruin advantage to 24-16 at the 8:41 mark. However, the Skyhawks went on to hold Belmont scoreless for over seven minutes, as they took a 25-24 lead by the two-minute point of the period. Consecutive treys from Chinn and Jones helped the Bruins back to their feet, as they still held a 30-27 lead at the half.
In the first half, Belmont shot just 33 percent from the field, as Chinn and Jones combined for 16 of the team's points. Still, the Bruins matched UT Martin on the glass with 20 rebounds and forced seven turnovers with six steals.
Back-to-back second chance 3-pointers from Kinney and Chinn put Belmont up 36-29 in the first two minutes of the second half. It took the Skyhawks less than a minute to tie the game back up, as they jumped out to a four-point lead by the midway mark of the third period. The Bruins worked back in front minutes later, but eight points from Perry to end the quarter gifted UT Martin a 51-44 advantage after three periods.
Belmont caught fire to begin the final quarter, as it rode a 10-2 run in the first three minutes to take a 54-53 lead. Following a 3-pointer from the Skyhawks, Jones hit another triple of her own to regain a one-point advantage for the Bruins at the 5:54 mark. UT Martin went on to regain a 65-60 lead, but a 3-pointer from Wells with 38 seconds remaining cut the deficit to just two points. Down three points in the final possession, Belmont was unable to connect on its game-winning three, as the Skyhawks notched the 66-63 victory.
Overall, Jones racked up a team-best four assists, while the duo of Cook and Luly combined for 17 rebounds in the loss. The trio of Chinn, Wells and Kinney all grabbed two steals each, as all but two Bruins logged at least one rebound and an assist. Tuesday's matchup featured 12 lead changes and six ties, while Belmont led for 23 minutes of the contest.
WELLS ON A TEAR: With 19 points against UT Martin, freshman guard Destinee Wells has scored in double-figures in all but two games this year, including each of her last seven outings. She currently leads the team with 13.9 points and 3.9 assists per contest.
DIALING LONG DISTANCE: With 14 threes on Tuesday, the Bruins recorded their second-highest 3-point total of the season and their second straight game with 10-plus 3-pointers. Belmont's season high in 3-pointers (16) came against Tennessee State at home on Dec. 10.
BALL MOVEMENT: The Bruins racked up 16 assists versus the Skyhawks, which marks the second consecutive game that they have tallied 15 or more assists. This year, Belmont has tabbed double-digit assists in all but one game and logged 15-plus assists in six different appearances.
UP NEXT: The Bruins finish out the week with road bouts at Austin Peay on Thursday and at Murray State on Saturday, as each game will tip off at 4:30 p.m.
