DES MOINES, Iowa – Despite holding a 25-23 lead after the first quarter of play, the Belmont University women's basketball team was unable to keep up with the high-octane offense of Drake University Friday evening inside the Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Facing their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference road test, the Bruins (6-8, 2-1 MVC) were outscored 71-38 across the last three quarters.
A 22-8 second quarter by the host Bulldogs (7-4, 2-1 MVC) shifted the momentum away from Belmont and the Bruins were unable to find their offensive rhythm in the second half. Drake, who owns one of the top offenses in the nation and leads the country in defensive rebounding, held a plus-30 (55-25) advantage on the glass.
Snagging 18 offensive rebounds, the Bulldogs scored 27 of their points on second chances. Outscoring Belmont 40-22 in the paint, Drake shot 49.3 percent (35-of-71) for the game and went 19-for-30 from the field (63.3 percent) in the second half.
The Bruins couldn't have asked for a hotter start, hitting 10 of their first 14 shots (71.4 percent) and going 3-for-5 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter. Junior guard
Destinee Wells nailed a pair of three-pointers and had 12 points in the high-scoring first quarter. A fadeaway jumper by Wells at the first quarter buzzer put Belmont back in front after the Bruins led for nearly the entire opening frame.
The Bulldogs attempted to match Belmont's fast start, going 8-for-16 from the floor in the first quarter and trailing only by two through 10 minutes of action.
A conventional three-point play from sophomore guard
Kilyn McGuff just over 90 seconds into the second quarter gave the Bruins their largest lead of the evening at 28-23. Belmont would hold its final lead of the game at 28-25 with seven-and-a-half minutes to go in the second quarter.
Drake ended the first half on a 22-5 run, limiting the Bruins to 3-for-17 (17.6 percent) shooting in the second quarter. Holding a 12-point, 45-33 lead at halftime, the Bulldogs assisted on 14 of their 16 made field goals in the first half.
Scoreless for nearly the first two minutes of the second half, a three by graduate guard
Sydni Harvey were Belmont's only points until the 2:05 mark of the third quarter. A 15-0 Drake run in the quarter ballooned the Bulldogs' lead to 28 at 64-36. Drake starting forward Maggie Bair connected on a triple in the final minute of the third, giving the Bulldogs a 71-42 advantage heading into the last quarter.
The Bruins were once again icy in the third quarter, going 3-for-13 (23.1 percent) from the field as Drake shot 66.7 percent (10-of-15) and went 3-for-6 from deep in outscoring Belmont 26-9.
Showing full-court pressure, the Bruins were unable to string together consecutive baskets early in the fourth quarter. Belmont found itself down 36 at 83-47 midway through the fourth following a 12-2 Bulldog run. After five-straight points from McGuff, Drake went on its final run of the contest, a 7-0 spurt, to take its largest lead at 90-52 with 2:49 left.
The Bruins ended the game on an 11-4 run across the final two-and-a-half minutes, getting old-fashioned three-point plays from sophomore forward
Kendal Cheesman and McGuff and a trey from freshman guard
Brooke Highmark.
Although Belmont shot much better in the fourth quarter (8-of-19) and made a trio of threes, the Bulldogs continue their torrid pace with 60 percent (9-of-15) shooting.
Assisting on 29 of its 35 made field goals, Drake tallied 14 three-pointers and was 6-for-13 from outside in the second half.
Wells led the way for the Bruins with 14 points while McGuff finished with 13 points and four rebounds. Sophomore forward
Tessa Miller distributed a team-high four assists.
Starting guard Sarah Beth Gueldner paced five double-figure scorers for the Bulldogs, recording 23 points on 7-for-14 shooting from distance. Courtney Becker had 16 points and eight rebounds for Drake off the bench and starting forward Grace Berg posted 15 points and a game-high nine boards. The Bulldogs got 11 points from Anna Miller off the bench and starting guard Taylor McAulay collected 10 points and seven rebounds. Fellow starting guard Katie Dinnebier dished out a game-best eight assists.
Of Note
The 31-point setback is Belmont's largest margin of defeat since Nov. 30, 2019, versus Maryland in Daytona Beach, Florida. Drake's 94 points are the most by any opponent this season and represent the most scored against the Bruins since March 6, 2020, when Southeast Missouri reached 114 in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game.
Up Next
Belmont makes the short trip from Des Moines to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to face 2022 MVC Tournament runner-up Northern Iowa Sunday in a 2 p.m. tip at the McLeod Center. Next Wednesday, the Bruins travel to familiar conference foe Murray State. Sunday afternoon's game against the Panthers will be broadcast on
ESPN+.
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