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Avery_Strickland_at_MiddleTennessee2025
Charles Townsend
71
Winner Belmont BEL 4-4,0-0 MVC
65
Middle Tenn. MTSU 3-5,0-0 CUSA
Winner
Belmont BEL
4-4,0-0 MVC
71
Final
65
Middle Tenn. MTSU
3-5,0-0 CUSA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Belmont BEL 19 22 17 13 71
Middle Tenn. MTSU 9 17 18 21 65

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Bruins Pick Up Gutsy Win at Middle Tennessee Wednesday Night

Clutch Play from Hilary Fuller and Jailyn Banks Propels Women’s Basketball to 71-65 Victory

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A career-best performance from graduate guard Avery Strickland, a go-ahead late-game basket by sophomore forward Hilary Fuller and clutch free throws from junior guard Jailyn Banks willed the Belmont University women's basketball team to a gritty, 71-65 victory at Middle Tennessee Wednesday night. Fuller hit the biggest shot of the night with 21 seconds remaining to put the Bruins (4-4) up 67-65 and Banks went 9-for-10 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, while Strickland delivered a career-high 20 points inside the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
 
Belmont led by as much as 20 points late in the first half and never trailed. The game was tied for only 47 seconds.
 
Thirty of the Bruins' 71 points came off 19 Blue Raider turnovers.
 
Belmont withstood Middle Tennessee's 39-30 second half after outscoring the Blue Raiders (3-5) 41-26 in the first half.
 
In addition to Strickland, Banks and Fuller's play, graduate guard Tuti Jones nearly posted a double-double with nine points, a team-best eight rebounds and a game-high four steals.
 
Middle Tennessee outpaced the Bruins 21-13 in the fourth quarter, evening up the score twice in the final 90 seconds before Fuller's go-ahead shot. A 12-2 Blue Raider scoring run beginning at the 7:18 mark of the fourth was capped by a pair of Alayna Contreras free throws, getting Middle Tennessee within a point at 62-61 with just under two minutes to go.
 
Moments later, the Blue Raiders tied it at 63 with 1:13 left following two free throws by Macie Phifer. Belmont responded on its next possession with Banks getting to the line and knocking down both foul shots for a 65-63 lead with 58 seconds remaining.
 
After Jones forced a jump ball and Middle Tennessee called a 30-second timeout, the Blue Raiders' Phifer drew yet another foul and made both freebies to tie up the score once more at 65 with 38 seconds left.
 
From there, head coach Bart Brooks called a 30-second timeout and Fuller converted a hook shot in the paint with 21 seconds on the clock. Middle Tennessee got a look at a three-pointer in the corner, but Savannah Davis' triple hit the iron and junior center KK Brodie snagged the rebound. Banks cashed in on four free throws in the closing 15 seconds.
 
The Blue Raiders shot 52.4 percent (11-of-21) in the second half and were 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the Bruins shot just 26.9 percent (7-of-26) in the second half and were 2-for-11 (18.2 percent) from deep.
 
Fuller's de facto game-winner was Belmont's only made field goal in the fourth quarter as Banks scored nine of the Bruins' 13 points.
 
The Bruins got out to a near flawless start and led 13-0 after the first six minutes of play. A Jones three gave Belmont a 16-2 lead through the opening eight minutes. After Middle Tennessee trimmed the lead down to seven early in the second quarter, the Bruins put together a 15-4 run and took a 37-19 advantage on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Quinn Eubank. Jones connected on her third three of the first half to put Belmont up 20 at 41-21 with a minute to go before intermission. Shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) in the second quarter, the Bruins shot 46.9 percent (15-of-32) in the first half and made seven first-half triples.
 
Strickland had 12 points at the break on 5-for-8 shooting.
 
Belmont led by double-figures the entire third quarter. Redshirt junior guard Claire Hyde, who finished with a career-high six points, capped a 10-2 run with a steal and layup to give the Bruins a commanding, 18-point lead at 58-40 with 1:36 remaining in the third.
 
Belmont entered the final stanza up 58-44.
 
From the 1:36 mark of the third to the 1:42 mark of the fourth, the Bruins were outscored 21-4.
 
The Blue Raiders connected on six of their 10 shots in the third period, including going 3-for-4 from outside.
 
Banks totaled 15 points and Fuller scored nine. Strickland matched her career high in rebounds (6) and came up with a career-best three steals.
 
Middle Tennessee was led by Blair Baugus' 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting and Phifer's 14 points on 4-for-6 shooting. The Blue Raiders also got 11 points and eight boards from Kirston Verhulst and 10 points from Yu Han Lin. Of Note
  • Belmont improves to 18-19 all-time versus Middle Tennessee, including 7-4 in the Bruins' NCAA era.
  • The win is Belmont's fourth straight against the Blue Raiders.
  • Coach Brooks is 7-1 against Middle Tennessee.
  • Banks has scored in double figures in seven of the first eight games of the season.
  • Banks played her first game back in Murfreesboro after starring at nearby Middle Tennessee Christian School during her prep career.
  • Strickland has reached a career high in scoring in consecutive outings – she had 19 points versus McNeese State in the Bahamas at the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship.
  • The Bruins move to 62-39 all-time versus current Conference USA members.
  • Belmont played its first game in a week (Nov. 26 vs. McNeese State).
Up Next
The Bruins begin a four-game homestand Saturday with receiving-votes Princeton visiting the Curb Event Center for a 1 p.m. tipoff. The home game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Next Sunday, Dec. 14, Belmont hosts nationally-ranked Kentucky.
 
Season Tickets
Season tickets, which include all Belmont women's and men's basketball home games, are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting BelmontBruins.com/Tickets or calling 615-460-BALL. Flex pack plans for the 2025-26 season are also on sale and can be purchased here.
 
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.
 
#ItsBruinTime
 
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