Bruins Win Third Straight, Earn 83-63 Road Victory at Valparaiso Thursday

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Scoring over 80 points for the third consecutive outing, the Belmont University women's basketball team won its third straight with an 83-63 road triumph at Valparaiso University Thursday evening. Five Bruins scored in double figures led by a game-high 19 points from graduate guard Avery Strickland and a double-double from sophomore guard Quinn Eubank, who notched a career-high 17 points and brought down a game-best 11 rebounds.
 
With the victory, Belmont (19-11, 15-4) clinches the No. 2 seed for next week's Credit Union 1 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Coralville, Iowa.
 
The Bruins erupted for 45 points in the second half after shooting just 30.2 percent (13-of-43) in the first half. Belmont limited the host Beacons (0-30, 0-19 MVC) to 28.8 percent shooting and only 19 made baskets.

Outworking Valparaiso 30-18 in the paint, the Bruins pulled down 58 rebounds, the second-most in a game this season, while holding a plus-14 advantage on the glass.
 
Despite shooting just 27.3 percent from beyond the arc, Belmont knocked down nine triples. For the fifth time this season, the Bruins made 20 free throws but left nine at the foul line (69 percent).
 
Belmont used 25 and 26-point second and third quarters, respectively, to distance itself from the Beacons.

Graduate guard Tuti Jones poured in 16 points and secured five rebounds, while junior center KK Brodie tied her season highs in both scoring (12) and rebounding (7). Sophomore guard Sanaa Tripp scored 13 points and collected six boards off the bench.
 
Junior guard Jailyn Banks distributed a career-high tying eight assists, snagged a season-best nine rebounds and came up with a game-high four steals.
 
Freshman forward Leah West was also active on the glass, corralling a career-best eight boards.

Although the Bruins got early three-pointers from Eubank and Jones, Belmont found itself trailing 17-13 following the first-quarter of play. Belmont went 4-for-18 (22.2 percent) from the field in the opening quarter.

A three by Valparaiso's Kayla Preston gave the Beacons a seven-point, 22-15 lead just over 30 seconds into the second quarter. Three-straight buckets from Tripp, Eubank and Strickland got the Bruins back within a point before Belmont closed the first half on a 15-6 scoring run.

Brodie stepped outside and nailed a triple to even the score at 29 with just under four-and-a-half minutes to go in the half, before putting the Bruins back in front at 34-33 with her second trey with just over a minute before the break. Belmont scored seven consecutive points to end the half. A jumper from Banks and a pair of Eubank free throws gave the Bruins a five-point, 38-33 halftime lead.

Anotha one!!@KkBrodie feelin' it#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/m12Zcj3wnH

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) March 6, 2026

Belmont outscored Valparaiso 25-16 in the second quarter and Brodie scored 10 first-half points.

A conventional three-point play by Eubank and a Jones three following a Eubank offensive rebound put the Bruins up by double digits for the first time of the evening at 47-37 a little over three minutes into the second half. From there, the Beacons went on a 9-2 run to climb back within three.

TUTI from the corner to make it a 10-point game! @tutijones3 ??#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/wk32BA3uNN

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) March 6, 2026

Valparaiso starting forward Milana Nenadic sunk a jumper to make it a three-point affair at 49-46 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Four free throws and baskets by Tripp and Brodie kept Belmont in front by a slightly comfortable margin. The Bruins took a 57-50 lead into the final quarter.

Belmont went 6-for-17 (35.3 percent) from the floor in the third.

Five quick points pushed the Bruins' advantage out to 12 within the first 70 seconds of the fourth. A Jones offensive board, putback layup through contact and made foul shot ignited an impressive 15-1 run over a four-and-a-half minute stretch. Strickland connected on a three-pointer to give Belmont its first 20-point lead at 76-56 with just under three minutes left. Moments later, Eubank put the Bruins up 22 with two-and-a-half minutes to go.

O-board + AND-ONE!!!@tutijones3 ??#ItsBruinTime | #Splashville pic.twitter.com/aJJgpd4sO9

— Belmont WBasketball (@BelmontWBB) March 6, 2026

It was Eubank who put an exclamation point on the evening, hitting her second three in the last 30 seconds to provide the final margin.

Outpacing the Beacons 26-13 in the fourth quarter, Belmont shot 47.1 percent (8-of-17) in the period while holding Valparaiso to 3-for-15 (20 percent) from the field. Strickland (10) and Eubank (7) combined for 17 of the Bruins' 26 fourth-quarter points.
 
Belmont outscored the Beacons 45-30 in the second half, keeping Valparaiso to 26.7 percent (8-of-30) shooting. Strickland, Eubank and Tripp all scored 10 across the second 20 minutes of action, while Jones scored nine.

Strickland added six rebounds and four assists.
 
The Beacons were led by Nenadic's 18 points and 10 boards. Valparaiso also got 15 points and a team-high five assists from starting guard Fiona Connolly and 10 rebounds from reserve center Kamryn Winch.

Of Note

• The Bruins have finished first or second in their conference in 10 of the last 11 seasons.
• Belmont has finished in the top three of its conference in 14 of the last 15 seasons, including each of the last 11.
• The Bruins have been the No. 2 seed in the MVC Tournament in three of their four years in the Valley.
• Belmont improves to 7-0 all-time versus the Beacons, including 4-0 inside the Athletics-Recreation Center.
• Strickland has scored in double figures in a team-best 21 games this season.

Up Next
The Bruins close out the regular season Saturday afternoon at the University of Illinois Chicago. Tipoff from the Flames' Credit Union 1 Arena in the Windy City is set for 2 p.m. The regular season finale 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.