Bruins Topple Sycamores 88-58 Sunday Afternoon at the Curb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Winning its seventh straight, the Belmont University women's basketball team handled Indiana State 88-58 Sunday afternoon inside the Curb Event Center in Nashville. Behind five double-figure scorers and 53.1 percent shooting, the Bruins (13-7) improved to 8-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play with their sixth consecutive home victory.
 
For the second-straight game, at least seven different players scored at least eight points and Belmont once again got plenty of contribution off the bench. The Bruins' reserves totaled 36 points for the second consecutive game and Belmont made a season-high tying 34 baskets.
 
Scoring the first six points of the afternoon, the Bruins never looked back and led by as much as 34 in the fourth quarter.
 
Belmont held the Sycamores (3-16, 1-7 MVC) to 36.7 percent (22-of-60) shooting, including 25 percent (4-of-16) from outside.
 
Grabbing a season-high tying 47 rebounds, the Bruins were plus-21 on the glass and scored 19 points off 14 offensive boards. Belmont was dominant in the interior, outscoring Indiana State 46-26 in the paint.
 
For the second-straight outing, the Bruins distributed over 20 assists with 21 passes leading directly to a bucket.
 
Paced by graduate guard Tuti Jones' 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc and six assists, Belmont scored at least 20 points in each of the last three quarters.
 
Senior forward Kendal Cheesman registered her ninth career and fourth double-double of the season with a career-high 15 rebounds and 11 points. Sophomore guard Kensley Feltner matched her career high, which she set in Friday night's win over Evansville, with 11 points and a career-best eight boards.
 
The Bruins kept the Sycamores scoreless for the first three-and-a-half minutes of the game before going on an 11-0 scoring run that set the tone early. Freshman guard Sanaa Tripp came up with a steal and a layup on an Indiana State inbound and a trio of free throws from graduate guard Kendall Holmes made it 17-2 late in the opening quarter.
 
Graduate guard Jacee Busick got a putback layup before the end of the quarter and Belmont led 19-6 through the first 10 minutes of action, despite not making a first-quarter three-pointer.
 
The Sycamores were limited to 3-for-16 (18.8 percent) from the floor in the first quarter.
 
Threes from Jones and Cheesman pushed the lead out to 25-6 early in the second quarter before Indiana State worked its way back to within 13. However, an 8-2 spurt put the Bruins up 35-16 on a layup from sophomore guard Jailyn Banks with 4:47 to go in the half. Second-chance baskets by Busick and senior forward Carmyn Harrison kept Belmont in front by 19 before the Bruins went scoreless for the last two minutes of the half.
 
After shooting 57.1 percent (8-of-14) in the second quarter, including going 3-for-5 from distance, Belmont led 39-25 at the break. Nine different Bruins scored in the first half as Belmont shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31) and held the Sycamores to 33.3 percent (11-of-33) from the field and 2-for-11 from long range.
 
The Bruins started the second half on a 7-0 run and took a 21-point, 46-25 lead just over three minutes into the third quarter on fastbreak layup by junior guard Emily La Chapell. A Holmes layup capped a 17-4 start to the second half and gave Belmont a comfortable 56-29 advantage just past the midway point of the third.
 
Jones sank her third three of the day in the final minute of the third quarter to make it a 28-point game and the Bruins led 63-37 heading into the fourth.
 
Doubling up Indiana State in the third quarter (24-12), Belmont went 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from the floor and got seven rebounds from Cheesman.
 
Another strong start in the fourth quarter led to a 10-2 Bruin run over the first 2:05. Jones was responsible for six of the 10 points with her last two three-pointers, her fifth of the contest giving Belmont its largest lead of the afternoon at 73-39.
 
A triple from freshman guard Quinn Eubank and a pair of Feltner free throws kept the Bruins in front by 33 with five minutes remaining, before freshman forward Hilary Fuller and Busick closed out the game with eight combined points in the final three-and-a-half minutes.
 
Both teams shot over 50 percent in the fourth quarter with Belmont scoring 25 points on 56.3 percent (9-of-16) shooting, including going 3-for-6 from downtown. The Sycamores were 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from the field in the last stanza.
 
The Bruins shot 54.5 percent (18-of-33) in the second half and were 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) from deep.
 
Busick finished with a season-high 10 points on 5-for-6 shooting, while Banks also scored 10 on a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor. Jones earned four steals for the third time in four games and Cheesman made a trio of blocks.
 
Indiana State starting guard Bella Finnegan scored a game-high 17 points and the Sycamores got 10 points apiece from reserve guard/forward Davina Smith, Keslyn Secrist and Deja Jones. Secrist also added six boards and fellow starting guard Mia Simpson tallied seven points, seven rebounds and six assists for Indiana State. The Sycamores' Jones came up with a game-best five steals.

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HC @BartABrooks and senior forward @KendalCheesman discuss the Bruins' winning streak and 2-0 weekend at ?????? ???????? ??#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/cwk3tvpE8T

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) January 26, 2025

Of Note

• All 12 available players saw action on the court and 11 scored at least three points.
• Belmont has had five or more players score in double figures in three different games this season.
• The Bruins have put together a seven-game winning streak for 10-straight seasons.
• Belmont is 5-0 against Indiana State since joining the MVC.
• The Bruins have gone 2-0 each of the last three weeks.
• Banks has scored in double figures in 15 of 20 games this season, including the last 11.
• Jones has reached double figures in 10 of her last 11 outings.

Up Next
Belmont will have six days off from game action before wrapping up its three-game homestand next Saturday with conference rival Murray State. Tipoff from the Curb is scheduled for 4 p.m. The marquee MVC matchup between Valley leaders 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. Flex pack plans for the 2024-25 season, along with single-game tickets, are also available.
 
For more information, visit BelmontBruins.com/Tickets or call 615-460-BALL.
 
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.