Box Score FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Sophomore guard Destinee Wells scored a game-high 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting but the Belmont University women's basketball team was unable to slow down a high-scoring Arkansas squad Sunday night inside Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Receiving votes in both national polls, the Razorbacks (6-1) used a red-hot shooting first half to outpace the Bruins (3-3), 83-63, in non-conference action.
The game was Belmont's second road tilt at a Southeastern Conference opponent through six outings this season. Arkansas was also the Bruins' fourth-straight road opponent receiving votes in at least one of the two major national polls.
The Bruins found themselves in a 19-5 hole at the first media timeout. However, Belmont ended the first quarter on an 11-4 run with back-to-back three-pointers by senior forward Conley Chinn and Wells getting the Bruins within nine at 29-20.
Belmont trimmed the deficit down to seven with a pair of free throws from freshman guard Kilyn McGuff making it 29-22 early in the second quarter. A Chinn layup halted a 10-0 Razorback run with 4:31 to go in the half, but the Bruins trailed 42-26 at the second quarter media timeout.
Arkansas ended the first half on a 9-2 run and led 51-28 at the break.
The Razorbacks shot 58 percent in the first 20 minutes of play and went 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from beyond the arc, while holding Belmont to 41.7 percent (10-of-24) first-half shooting and just 4-for-12 (33.3 percent) from deep.
The Bruins began the second half on a 5-0 run with a baseline layup from Wells and a Chinn triple. But that momentum would quickly be reversed as the hosts closed the third quarter on a 7-0 run. After junior guard Nikki Baird knocked down a three with 2:25 remaining in the third to keep Belmont within 20 at 65-45, Arkansas held the Bruins scoreless for the following 2:42 of on-court action.
Freshman forward Tessa Miller drew a foul and connected on a free throw to start the fourth quarter before Belmont outscored the Razorbacks 15-9 across the final nine-and-a-half minutes of the game. The Bruins allowed only one Arkansas field goal in the last five minutes while ending the contest on a 9-2 run. Despite outscoring the Razorbacks 18-11 in the fourth on 50 percent shooting, it was too little, too late for Belmont.
Outscoring Arkansas 35-32 in the second half, the Bruins shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the field and went 4-for-10 from distance while limiting the Razorbacks to 36.7 percent (11-of-30) second-half shooting, including 2-for-8 (25 percent) from long range.
Belmont held its own on the glass for the night, outrebounding Arkansas 32-31.
The Razorbacks outscored the Bruins 35-20 off the bench and 34-28 in the paint. Arkansas forced Belmont to commit 19 turnovers and converted those miscues into 26 points.
The Bruins finished the game 44 percent (24-of-55) from the field and the Razorbacks shot 48 percent (29-61), including going 10-for-21 (48 percent) from outside, for the full 40 minutes.
Wells collected five rebounds, distributed three assists, and made a pair of steals to go along with her 20 points and Chinn finished with eight points and three boards. Sophomore forward Madison Bartley scored seven and grabbed four rebounds, while Miller, McGuff and Baird all posted six points. Miller also tallied a team-high six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench.
Forward Erynn Barnum led Arkansas with 15 points on 5-for-9 shooting and earned a game-high seven boards. The Razorbacks had four different players reach double figures and went 15-for-18 at the free-throw line as a team.
Up Next
Belmont returns to the friendly confines of the Curb Event Center Thursday when they host in-town rival Lipscomb for the 75th Battle of the Boulevard. Tipoff in the Music City is set for 5 p.m. with the rivalry game broadcast on ESPN+.
Follow Belmont women's basketball on social media - @BelmontWBB on Twitter, @belmontwbb on Instagram and Belmont Women's Basketball on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
#ItsBruinTime
