Box Score NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind five double-figure scorers and a plus-10 rebounding advantage, the Belmont University women's basketball team opened the home portion of its Ohio Valley Conference slate with a commanding 85-65 win over Southeast Missouri State University Thursday evening. Off to a 3-0 start in OVC play for the fourth time in program history, the Bruins (7-5) held a nine-point lead at halftime before outscoring the visiting Redhawks (4-10, 0-3 OVC) 41-30 in the second half behind 53.3 percent (16-of-30) shooting.
OVC Preseason Player of the Year Destinee Wells tied her season high with 21 points and Belmont got a career-high 14 points from freshman forward Tessa Miller, in addition to a season-best 12 points from senior forward Conley Chinn and another 14 points from sophomore forward Madison Bartley. Sophomore guard Tuti Jones also scored 12 points, while distributing a game-high five assists and recording a career-high tying seven steals.
It marked the second time this season the Bruins had five players reach double figures in the same game.
Belmont scored 26 points off 17 offensive rebounds and forced 22 SEMO turnovers, coming up with a season-best 14 steals. Assisting on 21 of their 30 made field goals, the Bruins scored 40 points in the paint to collect their third victory inside the Curb Event Center this season.
With chilly temperatures outside and a half foot of snow on the ground, sophomore guard Wells was icy as she scored eight of Belmont's first 10 points of the evening and 10 of its first 14.
A Miller layup just over four-and-a-half minutes in gave the Bruins a 12-10 lead and Chinn capped a 15-4 run with a three from the top of the key to put Belmont up 17-10 at the first media timeout. Back-to-back buckets by Miller extended the Bruins' lead to 21-10 with just under three minutes to go in the opening quarter.
The Redhawks ended the first quarter on 7-0 run to climb within five at 24-19 and SEMO shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) in the first 10 minutes of play, going 2-for-3 from long range.
A pair of Wells free throws put Belmont in front 31-27 four minutes into the second quarter before junior guard Nikki Baird nailed a corner trey to complete a 12-5 Bruin run, giving the home team an eight-point advantage at 40-32.
Ending the first half on a 13-6 run, Belmont took a 44-35 lead into the break.
A conventional three-point play by Bartley began the second half for the Bruins, who took a 13-point lead at 54-41 three minutes in following a wing triple by Jones. Another three-pointer by Jones put Belmont up by 16 at 59-43 midway through the third quarter.
Outscoring the Redhawks 9-2 across the final four minutes of the third quarter, the Bruins built a 21-point lead (71-50) heading into the last quarter of action. Bartley scored 10 of Belmont's 27 points in the third quarter as the Bruins shot 55.6 percent (10-of-18) and went 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.
Despite being outscored 15-14 in the fourth, Belmont shot 50 percent (6-of-12) in the quarter and got four points from freshman guard Kilyn McGuff. Finishing off an 8-4 run, Jones sank her third three to give the Bruins their largest lead of the night at 81-58 with 4:12 remaining.
Belmont finished the evening 17-for-19 (89.5 percent) at the foul line and connected on 46.2 percent (30-of-65) of its shots across the 40 minutes. SEMO went 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc but was held 0-for-3 from distance in the second half.
Miller pulled down a game-high seven rebounds and Wells tied her career high with six boards. Bartley also contributed six rebounds and Chinn dished out a career-best tying four assists.
The Redhawks got a team-high 14 points from Shymaryia Christopher in 19 minutes off the bench and 10 points each from starting guards Jaliyah Green and Deanay Watson.
Of Note
Snapping a two-game slide in the series, the Bruins got their first victory over SEMO since Jan. 9, 2020. Belmont earned its first home win against the Redhawks since Jan. 31, 2019, improving to 13-6 all-time versus SEMO. Playing eight of their first 11 games of the season on the road and nine of their first 13 away from home, Thursday's game was the Bruins' first inside the Curb Event Center since Dec. 15. Since the start of the 2012-13 season, Belmont is 99-21 (.825) at home and the Bruins have gone 47-7 (.870) inside the Curb Event Center under head coach Bart Brooks. Including conference tournament games, coach Brooks has led Belmont to an astonishing 77-8 (.906) record against OVC opponents. He improved to 6-2 versus the Redhawks.
Up Next
The Bruins hit the road once again this weekend, traveling to Martin, Tennessee, Saturday to take on defending OVC regular season champion UT Martin. Tipoff from inside the Elam Center is set for 1 p.m. with the conference road game broadcast on ESPN+. Next week, Belmont hosts Austin Peay on Thursday, Jan. 13 before welcoming Murray State to the Curb Event Center next Saturday, Jan. 15.
Belmont season tickets, which include the entire men's and women's basketball home schedule, are on sale now at BelmontBruins.com/Tickets, in addition to flex packs, single game tickets and group experiences. Fans can also call or text 615.460.BALL (2255).
To become a Bruin Club member, contact Russell Grimm at (615) 460-5668 or russell.grimm@belmont.edu.
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.
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