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Hilary_Fuller_vs_UIC2026
Emma Moore
56
UIC UIC 11-13,6-7 MVC
71
Winner Belmont BEL 15-9,11-2 MVC
UIC UIC
11-13,6-7 MVC
56
Final
71
Belmont BEL
15-9,11-2 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
UIC UIC 11 13 23 9 56
Belmont BEL 19 12 28 12 71

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Bruins Douse Flames, Defeat UIC 71-56 Friday Night at the Curb

Belmont Hits 11 of 20 Three-Point Attempts for Third-Straight Victory

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind 11-for-20 three-point shooting and stingy defense, the Belmont University women's basketball team extinguished the Flames of the University of Illinois Chicago 71-56 Friday night inside the Curb Event Center in the Music City. Moving to 11-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play, the Bruins (15-9) got 19 points on 5-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc from sophomore forward Hilary Fuller following a two-game absence.
 
Belmont scored 40 second-half points on 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) shooting from outside and led by as much as 18 late in the third quarter.
 
The Bruins held UIC (11-13, 6-7 MVC) to 38.1 percent (24-of-63) shooting, including 16.7 percent (2-of-12) from distance, and scored 22 points off 12 Flame turnovers.
 
Leading for over 36 minutes of the contest, Belmont shot 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the field and outscored UIC 26-22 in the paint.
 
Both graduate guard Avery Strickland and junior guard Jailyn Banks poured in 15 points, while graduate guard Tuti Jones scored nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep.

Started by a three-pointer from sophomore guard Sanaa Tripp, the Bruins used a 14-0 scoring run midway through the first quarter to build a 19-6 lead after the Flames scored the inaugural four points of the game. Going 5-for-6 from three in the opening quarter, Belmont led 19-11 through 10 minutes of action. Scoring the first seven points of the second frame, a conventional three-point play by sophomore guard Quinn Eubank gave the Bruins a 15-point lead at 26-11. However, Belmont was outscored 13-5 across the last 8:12 of the first half. A Banks layup with 2:35 to go in the half was the Bruins' only field goal in the closing eight minutes of the first half. UIC starting forward Julia Coleman got the visitors within five at 29-24 in the last 15 seconds of the half, but Belmont took a 31-24 lead into the break.

Banks scored 10 of her 15 points in the first half as the Bruins limited the Flames to 29.4 percent (10-of-34) shooting, including 0-for-7 from long range, in the first 20 minutes of play.

UIC's Coleman once again made it a five-point game in the first 20 seconds of the second half before Belmont went on a 13-4 run. Back-to-back triples from Fuller pushed the Bruins in front 44-30 a little under four minutes into the third quarter. Consecutive layups from Strickland began a 9-4 stretch and her and-one layup with 1:05 left in the third gave Belmont its largest lead of the night at 59-41. The Flames scored six-straight points to close the quarter, but the Bruins took a commanding 59-47 lead into the final stanza.
 
On 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) shooting, which included going 4-for-4 from downtown, Belmont scored 28 third-quarter points for the Bruins' highest scoring period of the season.
 
UIC also shot exceptionally well in the third, going 10-for-15 (66.7 percent) from the field and 2-for-2 from outside the arc.

The Flames' starting guard Jessica Carrothers completed a 10-0 run nearly 90 seconds into the fourth quarter, getting UIC within eight at 59-51 on a jumper. Jones then responded, knocking down a deep three-pointer from the right wing. In a low-scoring fourth, driving layups from Banks and Strickland kept Belmont up double digits. Not allowing the Flames to score in the final two minutes, the Bruins held UIC without a field goal for the last 4:55. Fuller provided the final dagger, splashing in her fifth three in the last 40 seconds to make it 71-56. Both teams shot under 30 percent in the fourth quarter with Belmont outscoring the Flames 12-9.
 
Fuller scored 16 of her 19 in the second half on 6-for-9 shooting as Strickland went 6-for-7 from the floor, scoring 13 of her 15 in the second 20 minutes.
 
Banks distributed a game-high tying five assists and Strickland added six rebounds. Eubank grabbed a team-high seven boards.
 
Carrothers led UIC with a game-best 24 points on 11-for-20 shooting and five assists. The Flames also got a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds from Coleman and nine points and eight boards from starting center Magdalena Winter. Of Note
  • The Bruins have held each of their last three opponents under 60 points.
  • Belmont improves to 7-0 all-time versus UIC.
  • The Bruins are 8-4 at the Curb this season.
  • Fuller has scored in double figures in a team-best 17 games this season.
  • Banks has scored in double figures in 15 of the 16 games she has played in this season.
Up Next
Belmont hosts Valparaiso Sunday afternoon for its annual Play4Kay game benefiting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Tipoff from the Curb is slated for 2 p.m. and the MVC home matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+. Next weekend, the Bruins travel to Illinois State Friday and Bradley Sunday, Feb. 22.
 
Tickets
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 season are on sale and can be purchased by visiting BelmontBruins.com/Tickets or calling 615-460-BALL.
 
Credit Union 1 MVC Tournament
The 2026 Credit Union 1 MVC Tournament will be held Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15 in Coralville, Iowa, at Xtream Arena. All-session tournament passes are on sale now and can be purchased here. Rooms are also available for booking at the official Belmont fan hotel – Drury Inn & Suites.
 
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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