Box Score 2022 OVC Championship Bracket
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For seven consecutive seasons the Belmont University women's basketball team has won 20 or more games. The Bruins clinched their seventh-straight 20-win campaign late Saturday afternoon with a convincing 82-44 senior day victory on homecoming over visiting Tennessee State University.
Behind 51 percent (33-of-65) shooting and a trio of double-figure scorers Belmont won its 10th straight, leading the entire way inside the Curb Event Center. A fast start and 44 first-half points led to the Bruins' final Ohio Valley Conference victory as Belmont knocked down nine three-pointers and assisted on 21 of its 33 made field goals.
Improving to 20-7 on the season and completing their last OVC schedule at 16-2, the Bruins led by as much as 40 and held a plus-three margin on the boards. Belmont scored 20 points on 19 Lady Tiger turnovers, got 46 points in the paint and 24 points off its bench.
Holding Tennessee State (11-18, 6-12 OVC) to 33.3 percent (18-of-54) shooting, including just 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from distance, the Bruins came up with 10 steals and six blocks. Belmont shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the second half and all nine available Bruins scored at least four points.
Fittingly, senior forward Conley Chinn led all Belmont scorers with 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Sophomore guard Destinee Wells continued her exceptional year with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and six assists, while sophomore forward Madison Bartley once again flirted with a double-double as she scored 10 and pulled down eight rebounds.
Belmont won its 14th consecutive against the Lady Tigers and head coach Bart Brooks improved to 9-0 versus Tennessee State.
Scorning the first six points of the afternoon, the Bruins jumped out to an 11-2 lead three minutes in before the Lady Tigers called a timeout. A fastbreak Chinn layup put Belmont in front 19-7 midway through opening quarter and the Bruins took an impressive 26-7 lead following a triple from sophomore guard Blair Schoenwald. Belmont led 28-12 after the first quarter of play thanks in large part to the Bruins hitting five of their first eight three-pointers (62.5 percent).
Baskets by Bartley, senior guard Jamilyn Kinney and Wells gave Belmont a 24-point lead at 36-12 just over three minutes into the second quarter and the Bruins led 44-26 at the break. Belmont shot 48.6 percent (18-of-37) across the first 20 minutes of play and went 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) from long range while keeping Tennessee State to 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from the field and 2-for-7 (28.6 percent) from deep. Wells had 11 points in the first half.
Back-to-back layups by freshman forward Tessa Miller kept the Bruins in front by 23 at 53-30 just over halfway through the third quarter and Belmont closed the period on a 13-6 run. A layup by freshman guard Kilyn McGuff right before the third quarter buzzer made it 62-36. The Bruins went 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from the floor in the third and limited the Lady Tigers to 28.6 percent (4-of-14) shooting.
Outscoring Tennessee State 20-8 in the final quarter, Belmont began on an 8-2 run in the first two minutes. Chinn accounted for five of the first eight points and the Bruins extended the run to 14-4 with Schoenwald nailing her second three to put Belmont up 36 at 76-40 with 4:44 to go.
Chinn and Kinney had storybook endings to their senior day, both draining three-pointers to close out their careers at the Curb. Their threes were the Bruins' final points of the day, and both were subbed out with a standing ovation following their three-point makes.
Going 7-for-13 (53.8 percent) in the fourth quarter, Belmont held the Lady Tigers to 28.6 percent (4-of-14) shooting once again in the closing 10 minutes.
Miller finished with nine points and a pair of blocks and Kinney distributed a season and game-high seven assists. Junior guard Nikki Baird secured a career-high eight rebounds.
Tennessee State was paced by starting guard Tatyana Davis' 18 points.
Prior to tipoff, seniors Macie Culbertson, Allison Luly, Jamilyn Kinney and Conley Chinn were celebrated on court with their parents present. In addition to the Bruins' four seniors, student managers Pamela Needs and Anderson Keathley were honored.
Up Next
With its fifth OVC regular season title in six years, Belmont has clinched the top seed for next week's OVC Championship, held Wednesday-Saturday, March 2-5 inside the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. Receiving a double bye, the Bruins will play in the first semifinal Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. versus the winner of fourth-seeded Austin Peay and the advancing team of the No. 5 seed Eastern Illinois/No. 8 seed Tennessee State opening round game.
All games of the 2022 OVC Women's Basketball Championship will be 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.
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