Women's Basketball Defeats Lipscomb 63-55 Wednesday Evening on the Opposite End of Belmont Boulevard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Winning its 15th consecutive Battle of the Boulevard game, the Belmont University women's basketball team topped nearby rival Lipscomb 63-55 Wednesday evening on the south end of Belmont Boulevard. The Bruins (4-4) put together a strong first half and made key plays down the stretch in the 78th edition of the Battle of the Boulevard inside Allen Arena in Nashville to improve to 52-26 all-time versus the Bisons (6-3).
 
A pair of clutch, fourth-quarter three-pointers by senior forward Kendal Cheesman and late driving layups from sophomore guard Jailyn Banks and junior guard Emily La Chapell were crucial to Belmont's victory.
 
Lipscomb got within one twice in the fourth quarter after the Bruins led by as much as 14 in the first half. Belmont led by 11 at the break but was outscored 32-29 in the second half as the Bisons shot 52.2 percent (12-of-23) across the second 20 minutes of action.
 
Forcing 16 turnovers, the Bruins scored 19 points off Lipscomb's miscues and earned 10 fastbreak points. Four different players reached double figures for the second-straight game led by graduate guards Kendall Holmes (14) and Tuti Jones (13).
 
After the Bisons began the game with a three, Belmont put together an impressive 15-3 scoring run to mount a 15-6 lead with 3:20 to go in the opening quarter. Back-to-back triples from Holmes and consecutive layups by senior forward Carmyn Harrison sparked the Bruins' offense. Although Lipscomb scored seven of the last 11 points of the quarter, Belmont led 19-13 following the first 10 minutes of play.
 
The Bruins shot 50 percent (8-of-16) in the first quarter and Holmes accounted for 10 of Belmont's 19 points.
 
Another Holmes trey and a Harrison layup pushed the Bruins' lead out to 11 at 24-13 less than two minutes into the second quarter. Jones then gave Belmont its largest lead at 34-20 with 2:24 to go in the half, splashing in a three to cap an 8-2 Bruin run. Belmont led 34-23 at halftime.
 
Jones had eight in the second quarter and the Bruins held the Bisons to 27.3 percent (9-of-33) shooting in the first half.
 
Belmont struggled to make shots in the third quarter as Lipscomb worked its way back. Outscoring the Bruins 18-8 across the first eight minutes of the second half, the Bisons pulled within one at 42-41 on a layup from starting point guard Ainhoa Cea. Four made free throws by Banks closed out the third quarter with Belmont taking a 46-41 lead into the final stanza.
 
Despite going 9-for-10 at the foul line in the quarter, the Bruins were 1-for-10 from the field in the third. Lipscomb shot 53.8 percent (7-of-13) in the third quarter and went 2-for-5 from outside.

Another layup by the Bisons' Cea got Lipscomb back within a point at 46-45 two minutes into the fourth quarter. Following a called timeout by the Bisons, Cheesman knocked down her first three-pointer to ignite a 10-2 Belmont run. Cheesman put the Bruins up by nine at 56-47 with her second triple midway through the fourth.
 
In just under a minute of play, Lipscomb rattled off eight unanswered points with consecutive three-pointers from starting guard Jalyn Holcomb and a layup by fellow starting guard Claira McGowan. The 8-0 run made it a one-point affair once again at 56-55 with four minutes to go. From there, La Chapell and Banks made great plays on both ends of the floor. La Chapell made a block before Jones threw the ball ahead to Banks for an easy two, and on the Bisons' ensuing possession, La Chapell came up with a steal and took it the whole way to finish at the rim.
 
La Chapell's layup gave Belmont a convincing 60-55 lead with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.

The Bruins held Lipscomb without a field goal for the final four minutes and Holmes, Banks and La Chapell knocked down one free throw each in the last 20 seconds.

Belmont outscored the Bisons 17-14 in the fourth and went 6-for-14 (42.9 percent) from the field. Lipscomb shot 50 percent (5-of-10) in the quarter but committed eight turnovers.

The Bruins were hampered by 29.2 percent (7-of-24) shooting in the second half, including going 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

Belmont assisted on 16 of its 20 made field goals.

Holmes added a pair of steals and a trio of rebounds to her team-high 14 points, while Jones finished with 13 points, five assists and two steals. La Chapell posted 10 points, five boards and two steals and Cheesman went 4-for-7 from the field for 10 points and came up with seven rebounds. Banks scored nine points, brought down six boards and distributed a career-high tying six assists. Harrison grabbed a team-high nine rebounds and added seven points.

Starting guard Bella Vinson, who reached 1,000 career points in the game, led the Bisons with 15 points and a team-best six carroms. McGowan was also in double figures for Lipscomb, scoring 10 and collecting five boards. Cea dished out a team-high five assists for the Bisons.

?? | Postgame comments from graduate guard @tutijones3 and HC @BartABrooks after the Bruins' victory in the 78th Battle of the Boulevard ????#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/tOkRYKExw5

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) December 5, 2024

Of Note

• The Bruins haven't lost to Lipscomb for over 13 years – Jan. 27, 2011.
• Head coach Bart Brooks improves to 7-0 versus the Bisons.
• Belmont is 29-9 against Lipscomb since joining NCAA Division I (1996-97).
• Both Holmes and La Chapell have scored in double figures in six of eight games this season.

Up Next
The Bruins return to the friendly confines of the Curb Event Center Saturday for a matinee matchup with Middle Tennessee. Tipoff from the Music City is scheduled for 12 p.m. with the Belmont men versus the Blue Raiders to follow. The game between two of the top mid-major teams in the nation 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
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