Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn – Four players with double-figure points helped Belmont women's basketball to an 82-73 victory over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels Thursday night at the Curb Event Center.
OVC Freshman of the Week Destinee Wells led the Bruins (11-5, 8-3 OVC) with a career-best 26 points along with four rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Conley Chinn racked up 15 points and seven boards, while junior guard Jamilyn Kinney and freshman forward Madison Bartley each logged 11 points.
Overall, Belmont shot a 48 percent clip from the field, dished out 16 assists and outrebounded the Colonels by a 37-31 margin on the afternoon. The Bruins also set a new season high in points from the paint (46).
OVC Newcomer of the Week Jayla Johnson fueled Eastern Kentucky (6-11, 5-8 OVC) with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor. Three other Colonels recorded double-digit points in their loss.
Eastern Kentucky got off to a hot start, as Belmont went down 14-3 by the 5:13 mark of the first quarter. Consecutive buckets from Chinn one minute later put the Bruins within 10 points of the lead. Belmont finished out the period with an impressive 11-2 run, but still went down 21-20 into the second quarter.
A layup from Chinn put the Bruins up 27-24 early in the second period, but the Colonels regained the lead by the 3:52 mark. Belmont responded with a 7-0 tear to take a 36-30 advantage with under two minutes remaining in the half. Wells finished out the quarter with seven points to give the Bruins a 41-35 halftime lead.
At the half, Wells and Chinn combined for 26 of Belmont's points, as the team shot a 40 percent clip from the field and hit five 3-pointers. It also outrebounded its foes 22-18 in the first half and forced 10 turnovers.
Kinney knocked down a three one minute into the third period to extend the Bruin advantage to 46-40. The two teams traded buckets back-and-forth, as a jumper from Wells kept Belmont ahead 52-48 at the media timeout. Wells hit two more shots coming out of the break to further the Bruins' lead. Belmont went on a 9-2 run to close out the period and go up 63-53 after three quarters.
Eastern Kentucky put itself within five points of the lead by the seven-minute mark, but a jumper from Wells 10 seconds later got the Bruins back on the board with a 66-60 lead. A small run from the Colonels tied the game up at 73-73 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. Belmont went on to rattle off nine straight points, as a layup from junior guard Maddie Cook secured an 82-73 home victory for the Bruins.
In total, every Belmont player grabbed at least one rebound, while four different Bruins dished out three-plus assists. Wells and Cook tied for a team-high four assists, as Bartley and Chinn each brought down a team-best seven boards. Freshman guard Tuti Jones chipped in nine points, four rebounds and a pair of steals on the afternoon, while Cook added eight points.
MATCHED MAGGARD: With 26 points against Eastern Kentucky, Destinee Wells became the first Belmont freshman to record four 20-point games in a season since Darby Maggard in the 2015-16 season. The OVC Freshman of the Week has also posted 25-plus points in two of her last three outings.
20/20: With three 20-point quarters versus the Colonels Thursday, the Bruins have scored 20 points in a period 20 different times this season. Belmont's three 20-point quarters against Eastern Kentucky also set a season high.
40 OR BETTER: The Bruins shot a 48 percent clip from the field Thursday, as they have now shot over 40 percent from the floor in 12 games separate games this year. They have also shot 40-plus percent in each of their last four appearances.
UP NEXT: Belmont stays at home to take on Morehead State Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Curb Event Center.
