The women’s basketball team earned a much-needed 62-45 win on Sunday against the Northern Kentucky Norse at the Curb Event Center.
The Bruins are coming off their first loss of the season against Western Kentucky University on Wednesday.
“It was a tough loss, our confidence got struck a little bit,” said senior Ellie Harmeyer on last week’s loss. ”But this win was a confidence booster for us going into our next game against Arkansas.”
This was the third matchup ever between the two teams, and the second win in the series for Belmont. In the last two matchups, the Bruins have won by more than 15 points.
The beginning of the first quarter was a dry run for both teams, as the first basket wasn’t scored until around the eight-minute mark with a layup by Belmont freshman guard Kiki Britzmann.
A steal by Harmeyer at the midpoint of the quarter gave the Bruins momentum, sending them on a 7-0 run.
Tough defense in the post by the Bruins held the Norse to just 6 points in the first quarter, giving them a lead of 13-6.
Senior forward Maddie Wright put up some impressive numbers, going up for six rebounds in the quarter.
The second quarter began with a quick corner three by NKU senior guard Molly Glick, but was quickly answered with a three on the opposite end of the floor by Harmeyer, marking her first points of the game.
Belmont senior guard Maura Muensterman ended a three-minute scoring drought at the midpoint of the second quarter with a three, which was also her first basket of the game.
NKU was able to get within five at six minutes remaining in the second quarter, but their hopes were shut out by a 9-0 run from the Bruins, bringing the score to 30-16 at the half.
The second half began with two made free throws by Harmeyer after a personal foul was called on NKU freshman Kailey Coffey. The Bruins quickly repossessed the ball and put it into the net with a 3-point basket by sophomore forward Conley Chinn.
The Bruins continued to dominate both offensively and defensively, holding the Norse to only 7 points in the third quarter, leading 50-23 going into the final quarter.
The Norse began the final quarter with tough defense, forcing the Bruins to an inbound violation call but couldn’t produce as they turned the ball over shortly after.
Keeping up their newfound momentum, NKU scored 12 in the first five minutes of the quarter, and held the Bruins to just 4.
NKU ended the game with a fight, scoring almost half of their total points in the fourth quarter.
The rally from the Norse proved ineffective as the final score favored the Bruins 62-45.
Glick put up 23 of the 45 points scored for NKU, earning a career high for the second straight game.
Belmont finished with only two players in double figures, Harmeyer with 20 points and Chinn with 10 points. The team also struggled in the 3-point game shooting only 22% from behind the arc.
Although the Bruins were light in double figures offensively, they posed the opposite defensively, totaling 51 boards on the night, Wright with 13 of them.
“The key to every game is winning the battle of the backboard,” said head coach Bart Brooks. “Our team has done that beautifully, I’m very proud of the effort they put in today.”
The next contest for the Bruins will be on the road as they take on the nationally ranked No. 23 University of Arkansas. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
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Article written by Julieann Chalacombe. Photos by Colby Crosby.