The women’s basketball team pummeled Eastern Illinois Panthers 69-45 Saturday afternoon behind great defense from seniors Ellie Harmeyer and Maddie Wright.
This win marked the Bruins 13th straight at home, and sixth straight against the Panthers.
EIU earned the tipoff, but found it tough to get past Belmonts defense, missing their first layup attempt.
The Panthers defense continued having a hard time reading the quick movement of Belmont’s offense, allowing the bruins to score early.
Senior Maura Muensterman extended the Bruins offensive run with the first three made for Belmont at 5:26 bringing the teams lead to 10-3.
Back-to-back turnovers for the Bruins allow EIU to take advantage of their mistakes bringing the score to 15-11.
Sophomore Conley Chinn quickly answers with a 3-pointer giving the Bruins a three possession lead.
Belmont ended the first quarter with a 21-13 lead.
The Panthers opened the second quarter with their toughest defense yet, but it isn’t enough to stop the Bruins.
Senior Ellie Harmeyer lights up Belmont’s offense with a three sending the Bruins on a 13-2 run. EIU wouldn’t score for five minutes during the Belmont run.
The end of the half favors the Bruins after its second quarter efforts, bringing the score to 36-23 at the half.
Belmont recorded an outstanding 29 rebounds in the first half. Eleven of them came offensively, allowing them to score 11-36 points second chance attempts.
The Panthers enter the second half determined, forcing Belmont to turn the ball over in their first possession, leading to a made jumper by EIU. They lose momentum quickly, however, going on a scoring drought shortly after.
A nice thread by Conley Chin gives the Bruins another easy lay up, bringing the score to 57-30 at the end of the quarter.
As coach Bart Brooks sent a new line up to the floor in the fourth quarter, the Panthers found some last second momentum, going on a 6-0 run in the last few minutes.
But in the end, their efforts weren’t enough to top the Bruins rebounding abilities..
Harmeyer recorded her second straight double-double scoring 16 points and going up for 13 boards, leading the Bruins to a 2-0 record inside the OVC.
“There’s no one tougher than Ellie,” said Coach Brooks,”she works hard, shows up everyday and I don’t think people understand how hard that is.”
Everyone of the starters had fantastic offensive and defensive performances. Chinn had one of her best games of the season scoring 12 points and rebounding eight. Wright picked up 6 points and eight rebounds. Muentserman dropped 10 points and rebounded five while sophomore Jamilyn Kinney scored 13 points and shot 4-5 from the field.
The Bruins altogether produced another heavy defensive presence, fighting for 53 total boards. 15 of them were offensive earning them 11 second chance points.
The Bruins hit the road and travel to Missouri to take on the Southeast Missouri Redhawks. Tip off is set for 5:15 p.m. on Thursday.
—
Article written by Julieann Challacombe. Photos by Bronte Lebo.