Bruins Trounce Kennesaw State 75-47 in Home Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A dominant, complete team effort in Belmont University women's basketball's home opener Thursday night led to a convincing 75-47 Bruin victory over Kennesaw State inside the Curb Event Center. Reaching 75 points for the second consecutive game, Belmont (2-1) knocked down 11 three-pointers, assisted on 21 of 26 made baskets and led for the entirety of the evening. All 11 Bruins who got on the court notched at least one field goal.
 
Belmont held the visiting Owls (1-2) to 27.1 percent (16-of-59) shooting and committed less than 10 turnovers. Coming up with 13 steals, led by the Bruins' NCAA era career steals leader Tuti Jones (5), Belmont made six blocks and outrebounded Kennesaw State 44-37. The Bruins scored 17 points off 16 Owl turnovers and got 36 points off the bench.
 
Jumping out to a 7-0 lead three minutes in thanks to a deep jumper from sophomore guard Jailyn Banks, Belmont began 4-for-7 from beyond the arc.
 
After one quarter of action, the Bruins led 25-6. Belmont started 9-for-15 from the field and built a 20-point lead in the second quarter.
 
After Kennesaw State got within 12 at 27-15, the Bruins closed the first half on a 15-5 run. Senior forward Kendal Cheesman capped the opening half with a contested bucket in the paint to give Belmont a 42-20 advantage heading into the break.
 
Cheesman had 11 at the half on 3-for-5 shooting from outside.
 
Graduate guard Jones splashed in a corner three a little over two minutes into the second half to put the Bruins up 27 at 47-20. Outscoring the Owls 17-13 in the third quarter, Belmont took a commanding 59-33 lead into the final stanza.
 
Jones nailed another triple with 5:39 to go and freshman guard Quinn Eubank found Cheesman in the corner for a three-pointer that gave the Bruins a 68-41 lead with just over four minutes left. With 2:40 remaining, Eubank sunk Belmont's last three to make it 71-45. It was Eubank's first collegiate points.
 
All told, the Bruins shot 42.6 percent (26-of-61) from the floor and were 11-of-36 (30.6 percent) from distance. Belmont missed seven of its 19 free throws (63.2 percent).
 
Kennesaw State was held to 4-for-14 (28.6 percent) shooting from long range.
 
Cheesman recorded her sixth career double-double, scoring a team-high 19 points and bringing down 10 rebounds. Fellow senior forward Carmyn Harrison scored a career-high tying 10 points and Jones finished with nine points, five boards, five steals and a trio of assists. Junior guard Emily La Chapell dished out a career-best six assists, while freshman forward Hilary Fuller tallied three blocks.
 
Guard Keyarah Berry accounted for over half of the Owls' points, scoring 24 of Kennesaw State's 47. She also collected a team-high tying eight rebounds as starting forward Prencis Harden had a near double-double for the Owls with nine points and eight boards.

?? | Postgame with senior forward @KendalCheesman and HC @BartABrooks + why we need YOU at the Curb Sunday afternoon!! #ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/9JDMqQmin4

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) November 15, 2024

Of Note

• Prior to the game, Jones was recognized at center court with a commemorative ball for becoming the Bruins' 35th 1,000-point scorer at the end of the regular season this past March.
• Graduate guard Jacee Busick, a transfer from Charlotte, made her Belmont debut and scored her first points as a Bruin.
• Harrison made her first career start.
• Jones made her 100th career start.
• Head coach Bart Brooks is a perfect 8-0 in home openers.
• Belmont improves to 201-67 (.750) all-time at the Curb.
• The Bruins move to 12-4 in the series with Kennesaw State and improve to 54-36 all-time versus current Conference USA programs.

Up Next
Belmont welcomes defending Big Ten Conference regular season champion and 12th-ranked Ohio State to the Music City Sunday afternoon. The marquee matinee matchup in the Curb is set to tip off at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Ticket Info
Season tickets are on sale now for $199 per seat and include all women's and men's basketball home games.
 
View available seating and purchase your seats.
 
Flex pack plans for the 2024-25 season are also on sale and can be purchased here.
 
For more information, call 615-460-BALL or visit BelmontBruins.com/Tickets.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women's basketball on social media - @BelmontWBB on X, formerly 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.