Bruins Handle Beacons 67-53 for Third-Straight Win

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind another hot start, the Belmont University women's basketball team won its third consecutive game Sunday afternoon inside the Curb Event Center in Nashville with a 67-53 victory over Valparaiso University. Improving to 4-1 in Missouri Valley Conference action, the Bruins (9-7, 4-1 MVC) scored 25 points in the opening quarter and led by at least seven for the duration of the afternoon.
 
Belmont limited the visiting Beacons (5-11, 1-4 MVC) to 33.3 percent (19-of-57) shooting and outrebounded its adversary by 17 (45-28) for the second consecutive outing.
 
Led by graduate guard Kendall Holmes' game-high 18 points and sophomore guard Jailyn Banks' 16 points, the Bruins imposed their will early and often before closing the door with a 12-4 scoring run in the fourth quarter.
 
Twenty-one of Valparaiso's 53 points came off 19 Belmont turnovers, but the Beacons shot no better than 40 percent in any quarter.
 
The Bruins assisted on 14 of their 22 made field goals and finished the game 42.3 percent (22-of-52) from the field. Despite going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, Belmont went 1-for-16 from outside across the last 30 minutes of play.
 
Three-pointers from Holmes, fellow graduate guard Tuti Jones and freshman guard Sanaa Tripp ignited an early 14-0 run that gave the Bruins a commanding 18-4 lead after the first six minutes. Another Holmes three, her third of the period, capped the quarter and put Belmont up 25-12.
 
The Bruins shot a scorching 62.5 percent (10-of-16) in the first quarter with Holmes pouring in 11 points.
 
Leading by double figures for the entirety of the second quarter, Belmont took its largest lead of the day at 36-19 on a layup from Tripp with just under four-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half. Although the Bruins were held without a point in the last two minutes of the half, Belmont led by 12 at 38-26 heading into the break.
 
Going 4-for-12 in the second quarter, the Bruins shot 50 percent (14-of-28) in the first half and kept Valparaiso to 10-for-30 from the floor and 3-for-15 from deep. Banks had nine at halftime.
 
After a Banks jumper extended Belmont's lead back out to 16 at 42-26 two-and-a-half minutes into the second half, the Beacons went on a 9-0 run. A pair of free throws from Valparaiso's Layla Gold made it a seven-point game at 42-35 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Sophomore guard Kensley Feltner converted a three-point play in the paint to end the Beacons' run and senior forward Carmyn Harrison scored a layup to push the lead to 12 once again. However, Valparaiso got back within seven at 47-40 with 90 seconds to go in the third on a three-pointer from the Beacons' Katie Beyer following four consecutive Bruin turnovers. A layup by Valparaiso starting guard/forward Leah Earnest at the end of the quarter made it an eight-point game at 51-43 going into the final stanza.
 
Feltner scored both of Belmont's last two baskets in the third quarter and tallied seven of the Bruins' 13 points in the frame. Outscored 17-13 in the quarter, Belmont went 0-for-7 from distance as the Beacons were 6-for-15 (40 percent) from the field.
 
Valparaiso's Gold scored on a driving layup to begin the fourth, getting the Beacons within six at 51-45. It would be as close as the visitors would get for the remainder of the contest.
 
Holmes drew a foul on a three-point attempt and knocked down all three free throws to give the Bruins a double-digit advantage at 55-45 with 7:50 left. Jones then splashed in a three from the corner in front of Belmont's bench to finish off the Bruins' game-clinching 12-4 run. Just under the two-minute mark, Jones' triple made it a 12-point game at 63-51. Banks connected on four free throws in the final 90 seconds.
 
Belmont outpaced Valparaiso 16-10 in the fourth quarter, holding the Beacons to 25 percent (3-of-12) shooting while going 9-for-11 at the foul line.
 
Both teams shot 33.3 percent in the second half and hit only three combined threes.
 
Banks finished 10-for-12 at the free-throw line and senior forward Kendal Cheesman nearly had her second-straight double-double, securing a game-best 13 rebounds and scoring nine points. Cheesman, Jones, Banks and Holmes all dished out a trio of assists. Junior guard Emily La Chapell snagged a season-high six boards.
 
Feltner tied her career high with nine points and Tripp posted a career-best five points.
 
Earnest led Valparaiso with 15 points and the Beacons got 10 points and seven rebounds from reserve forward Beyer.

?? | Graduate guard @KendallHolmes9 and HC @BartABrooks discuss the Bruins' three-game winning streak and look ahead to next week's road trip to Iowa ????#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/376cf1nnh5

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) January 12, 2025

Of Note

• The Bruins improve to 4-0 all-time versus Valparaiso.
• Belmont is 5-1 at home this season and has won four in a row at the Curb.
• The Bruins have held three of their last four home opponents under 55 points.
• Belmont has held its opponent under 67 points in all nine of its victories this season.
• Banks has scored in double figures in 11 of 16 games this season, including the last seven.
• Holmes notched her 42nd career double-figure scoring game.

Up Next
The Bruins make their annual trek to Iowa next week, traveling first to Des Moines to face Drake Thursday evening before heading to Cedar Falls to take on Northern Iowa next Saturday. Tipoff versus the Bulldogs Thursday is scheduled for 6 p.m. from the Knapp Center. The game will be broadcast on The Valley on ESPN, available 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.
 
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.