Women's Basketball Begins 2022-23 Campaign with First Official Practice Wednesday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Returning seven of its top nine scorers after coming within a ball bounce of the program's first Sweet 16 appearance, the Belmont University women's basketball team began its 2022-23 quest with the Bruins' first official team practice midday Wednesday.
 
With five newcomers, including transfers Sydni Harvey (South Florida) and Kendal Cheesman (Vanderbilt) and freshmen Caroline Bachus (Athens, Ala.), Brooke Highmark (St. Louis, Mo.) and Kate Hollifield (Shelby, N.C.), and all-conference performers Madison Bartley, Tuti Jones and Destinee Wells, Belmont is poised for another deep postseason run.
 
Taking to the hardwood inside the state-of-the-art Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence, the Bruins practiced with intense focus and determination Wednesday. In his sixth season leading Belmont, head coach Bart Brooks guided his squad through drills and plays with an astute attention to detail.
 
As the Bruins enter their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference, Belmont is looking to continue its success as one of the premier mid-major programs in the nation. The Bruins are one of just 12 teams in the country and one of only three non-power conference teams (Florida Gulf Coast and South Dakota State) to win 20 or more games for seven consecutive seasons.
 
Going 23-8 last year, Belmont won its fifth Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship and sixth OVC Tournament title en route to reaching its second-straight NCAA Tournament Round of 32. The Bruins, who have either been ranked or received votes in at least one of the two major national polls for seven consecutive seasons, finished 2021-22 with a NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) ranking of 45.
 
Defeating fifth-seeded Oregon 73-70 in a double-overtime first-round thriller in the 2022 NCAA Tournament this past March, Belmont became only the second program in Division I women's basketball history to win NCAA Tournament games in back-to-back seasons as a No. 12 seed or lower.
 
The Bruins will have quite the path during their 2022-23 journey, facing no fewer than 11 20-win teams from a season ago and going up against at least seven programs who reached last year's NCAA Tournament. Highlighted by marquee home games against ACC opponents Louisville (Nov. 13), a reigning Final Four team, and Georgia Tech (Dec. 4), Belmont's non-conference slate includes the 2022 Gulf Coast Showcase (Nov. 25-27) in Estero, Florida, which is one of the finest in-season college basketball tournaments. Taking on undoubtedly one of the most strenuous non-conference schedules in the nation, the Bruins will begin their inaugural 20-game MVC stretch on Dec. 30 when Belmont hosts Valparaiso.
 
Forty-two days out from their season opener, the Bruins welcome in-state adversary the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to the Curb Event Center on Wednesday, Nov. 9 to begin their 2022-23 campaign.
 
Season tickets are on sale now for just $199 per seat and include all men's and women's basketball home games. Click here to view available seating and purchase your seats.
 
Single game tickets will go on sale later this fall.
 
Flex pack plans for the 2022-23 season are also on sale and can be purchased here. For more information, call 615-460-BALL or visit BelmontBruins.com.
 
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.