NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Beginning the best month of college basketball with a win, the Belmont University women's basketball team defeated Southern Illinois 83-64 Monday night inside the Curb Event Center to close out the home portion of the regular season. Behind career highs from graduate guard
Avery Strickland and sophomore guard
Quinn Eubank, the Bruins (18-11, 14-4 MVC) made a season-high 33 field goals and shot 52.4 percent (33-of-63) from the floor.
For the second time this season, Belmont has surpassed the 80-point mark in consecutive games.
The Bruins came up with 10 steals and scored 40 points in the paint, marking the 16th time this season Belmont has recorded at least 10 takeaways.
Strickland scored 27 points, tying for the most by a Bruin this season, as she went 10-for-17 from the field. Eubank poured in 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and grabbed a team-best six rebounds.
Sophomore forward
Hilary Fuller also reached double figures with 14 points, to go along with five boards and a career-high tying three blocks.
Belmont overcame an eight-point first-quarter deficit by scoring over 20 points in the last three quarters for the second-straight game.
The Salukis (9-19, 6-13 MVC) jumped out to an early 12-4 lead seven minutes in. However, the Bruins outscored Southern Illinois 11-5 over the last three minutes of the first quarter. Sophomore guard
Sanaa Tripp scored on a layup as the first-quarter buzzer sounded, getting Belmont within two at 17-15.
The Salukis began the game 7-for-11 and shot 53.8 percent (7-of-13) in the opening quarter.
Scoring the first six points of the second quarter, the Bruins took their first lead of the night on a Strickland layup. Moments later, a steal and score by Strickland gave Belmont a 21-17 lead just 90 seconds into the second frame.
Southern Illinois responded to the Bruins' push and retook the lead at 29-28 on a steal and layup by Kynnedi Davis with three minutes to go in the half. From then on, it was all Belmont.
An offensive rebound and putback by Fuller ignited an 11-0 Bruin scoring run. Seven-straight points from Eubank put Belmont up by double digits at 39-29 with 39 seconds left in the half.
The Bruins took a 39-31 lead into the locker room after shooting a blistering 64.7 percent (11-of-17) in the second quarter while holding the Salukis to 33.3 percent (6-of-18). Belmont outpaced Southern Illinois 24-14 in the second stanza fueled by nine points each from Strickland and Eubank.
Strickland (12) and Eubank (11) accounted for 23 first-half points.
Five consecutive points from Strickland, including a three-pointer, pushed the Bruins' lead to 13 early in the third quarter. A pull-up jumper by junior guard
Jailyn Banks kept Belmont up 13 before the Salukis outscored the Bruins 13-6 over a six-minute stretch. Southern Illinois starting guard Alayna Kraus got the visitors back within six at 52-46 on a jumper with just over two minutes to go in the third.
It would be as close as the Salukis would get for the remainder of the night, though, as Fuller responded with a three. Closing the third quarter on an 8-2 run, three made free throws following a technical foul on Southern Illinois' Indya Green gave Belmont a commanding 60-48 lead heading into the final period.
The Bruins got another nine points from Strickland in the third and were 7-for-14 from the floor.
A 9-0 start to the fourth quarter blossomed Belmont's lead to 21 with Strickland's third three making it 69-48. Extending their run to 15-2, the Bruins took their largest lead of the contest at 75-50 on a pair of Strickland free throws with five-and-a-half minutes remaining.
Belmont cruised the rest of the way with baskets from junior center
KK Brodie, Eubank and Tripp. The Bruins shot 66.7 percent (8-of-12) in the fourth and were 6-for-6 at the foul line.
Outscoring the Salukis 44-33 in the second half, Belmont shot 57.7 percent (15-of-26) and went 5-for-11 (45.5 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Bruins limited Southern Illinois to 41.3 percent (26-of-63) shooting overall, including 3-for-10 from outside.
Tripp finished with eight points, four rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals.
The Salukis got a double-double from Green, who had 13 points and a game-high 13 boards. Starting guard Jeniah Thompson led Southern Illinois with 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting and eight rebounds, while Kraus totaled 15 points.
Of Note
- Belmont moves to within one win of clinching the No. 2 seed for the upcoming Credit Union 1 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Iowa.
- The Bruins improve to 10-0 all-time versus the Salukis.
- Strickland joins Banks and Fuller as Belmont players who have notched five 20-point games this season.
- Fuller has scored in double figures in 15 of her last 19 outings.
- Strickland has scored in double figures in six-straight games and all but four MVC contests.
Up Next
The Bruins embark on their final regular season road trip later this week, heading to Valparaiso Thursday and the University of Illinois Chicago Saturday. Tipoff Thursday night from the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Both MVC road games will be broadcast on
ESPN+.
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
