Bruins Battle 16th-Ranked Kentucky to the End in Non-Conference Finale

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Taking on its fourth top-20 opponent in 11 non-conference games, the Belmont University women's basketball team gave another nationally-ranked foe quite the scare Friday evening at 16th-ranked Kentucky inside historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky. The Bruins (5-6) came up just short, 84-78, against the Wildcats (10-1) after leading nearly half the game.
 
In a game that featured eight ties and seven lead changes, Belmont built a seven-point lead early and led as late as the 3:54 mark of the third quarter.
 
Despite Kentucky holding a collective size advantage, the Bruins outworked the Wildcats 34-32 on the glass and outscored the hosts 30-28 in the paint.
 
Belmont led by six at halftime, but Kentucky scored 51 second-half points on 62.5 percent (20-of-32) shooting. The Wildcats went 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from distance in the second half and got 20 points from All-American guard Georgia Amoore.
 
For the first time this season five different Bruins scored in double figures led by sophomore guard Jailyn Banks' career-high tying 23 points. It marks the second consecutive outing Banks has posted 23 points.
 
After trailing by 12 with 3:25 left and 10 with 2:21 remaining, Belmont made a ferocious comeback attempt and got within three at 79-76 with 53 seconds to go. However, Kentucky closed things out in the final 45 seconds.

The contest was scoreless for the first 2:09 before junior guard Emily La Chapell hit a corner three. A deep wing three by graduate guard Tuti Jones gave the Bruins a 12-5 lead midway through the opening quarter and Banks put Belmont up 18-12 on an old-fashioned three-point play with just under two minutes to go in the first stanza.

In the last 10 seconds of the first quarter, Banks scored on a driving layup to break a 20-20 tie.

The Bruins went 9-for-18 from the floor in the first quarter.

Banks scored Belmont's first four points of the second quarter, but the Wildcats pulled ahead 29-26 with 5:44 to go in the first half. Consecutive triples from Jones and senior forward Kendal Cheesman gave the Bruins a 32-29 advantage and Jones capped a 10-2 Belmont run to make it 36-31 with three minutes left in the half. In fact, the Bruins outscored Kentucky 13-4 in the closing five-and-a-half minutes of the half.
 
Cheesman connected on her second three of the evening from the top of the key right before the break, making it 39-33 Belmont at halftime.
 
Banks (11), Cheesman (10) and Jones (8) combined for 29 of the Bruins' 39 first-half points.
 
Belmont went 6-for-15 (40 percent) from beyond the arc in the first half and held the Wildcats to 1-for-10 from outside in the second quarter.
 
A 10-2 Kentucky scoring run across the first three-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter pushed the Wildcats in front 43-41 on an Amoore layup. The Bruins responded with a nice finish by graduate guard Kendall Holmes and a conventional three-point from La Chapell, which gave the lead back to Belmont at 46-43 a little over four minutes into the second half.
 
Baskets by Banks kept the Bruins in front by three at 50-47 with just under four minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Across the last 3:45 of the third, Kentucky outscored Belmont 10-4 and took a 57-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Wildcats outpaced the Bruins 24-15 in the third by going 10-for-16 from the field and limiting Belmont to 33.3 percent (6-of-18) shooting. The Bruins were 0-for-6 from three-point range in the quarter.
 
A three-pointer from Holmes kept Belmont within three at 62-59 three minutes into the fourth quarter but from there Kentucky went on an 11-2 run. An Amoore trey made it 73-61 Wildcats with just under five minutes to go.
 
Down 75-63 with 3:08 left, Holmes drew a foul on a drive to the basket and knocked down both free throws to spark an impressive 13-4 run that gave the Bruins a chance. With just over two minutes remaining, Holmes buried a three to get Belmont within seven at 77-70. Despite not being able to get a defensive stop on Kentucky's ensuing possession, Jones splashed in a triple to make it a six-point affair at 79-73 with 90 seconds to go.
 
Right after a Wildcat turnover, Holmes hit another three to make it a one-possession game at 79-76 with 53 seconds left. Kentucky responded with a three of its own as starting forward Amelia Hassett made it 82-76 with only 30 seconds remaining. Banks collected an offensive rebound on a Cheesman missed three-pointer and was fouled beyond the arc. With only eight seconds on the clock, Banks went 2-for-3 at the free-throw line and the Bruins had a foul to give. Belmont sent the Wildcats to the foul line with only four seconds to go and trailing 82-78. Kentucky starting guard Dazia Lawrence hit both of her free throws and a Banks three at the buzzer rimmed out.

The two teams combined for 52 points in the fourth quarter as the Bruins went 7-for-14 from the floor and 4-for-6 from long range. Holmes scored 11 in the fourth and was a perfect 3-for-3 from distance.
 
All told, Belmont shot 44.6 percent (29-of-65) and went 10-for-27 (37 percent) from outside. The Wildcats finished 49.2 percent (32-of-65) from the field, including 40 percent (12-of-30) from deep.
 
The Bruins got 20 points off the bench, while Kentucky's reserves scored only six.
 
Fifteen Belmont turnovers led to 21 Wildcat points.
 
Holmes scored 18 on 6-for-10 shooting, including 4-for-6 from behind the three-point line, and La Chapell tallied 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jones also came up with a trio of steals to go along with 11 points and five boards. Cheesman distributed a career-high tying six assists and notched 10 points.
 
Amoore led the Wildcats with 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting from distance and also dished out five assists. Kentucky got 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds from Hassett and Lawrence scored 15 and also accounted for five assists. The Wildcats' other two starters, forward Teonni Key and center Clara Strack, were also in double figures with 12 points apiece.

?? | Postgame press conference with HC @BartABrooks and @Jailynbanks3 following the Bruins' battle with 16th-ranked Kentucky Friday evening in Lexington. pic.twitter.com/pbOvkgrPJM

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) December 21, 2024

Of Note

• The Bruins drop to 1-36 all-time versus nationally-ranked opponents in Belmont's NCAA era.
• The Bruis are 1-6 against Kentucky.
• Belmont falls to 21-49 all-time versus current Southeastern Conference members.
• Six times this season the Bruins have had at least four players reach double figures.
• All six of Belmont's losses this season have been to power conference teams ranked in the top 35 of the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings.
• Holmes and La Chapell have both scored in double figures in eight of 11 games this season.
• All three of Banks' career-best 23-point outings have been on the road against SEC teams – Missouri, Mississippi State and Kentucky.
• Graduate guard Jacee Busick played a season-high 17 minutes and recorded a season-high three assists.

Up Next
The Bruins have a nine-day break from game action for Christmas before beginning Missouri Valley Conference play next weekend at home. Belmont hosts Bradley for its MVC opener next Sunday, Dec. 29. Tipoff from the Curb Event Center in the Music City is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Ticket Info
Season tickets are on sale 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.

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