The women’s basketball team earned their fifteenth straight victory at the Curb Event Center with a hard fought 71-62 win against the Morehead State on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore Conley Chinn played another impressive game with 17 points, 11 of them coming in the second half. She went 4-5 from behind the arc and went 6-10 from the field.
The Bruins began the first few possessions going five of their first six from the field, putting them up early in the first quarter.
Seniors Maddie Wright and Ellie Harmeyer put the first numbers on the board with an easy layup followed by a contested and-one respectively.
Senior Maura Muensterman, who missed their previous game due to illness, also contributed early with a second chance shot that brought the Bruins up 13-2, forcing the Eagles to use their first time out less than four minutes into the quarter.
Following the timeout, Morehead State found some momentum going on a 6-0 run to make it a two possession game.
The match up continued to be neck and neck, as each team was able to find an answer to the other.
Muensterman finished the quarter strong for the Bruins, putting up a three with under 10 seconds left giving her 8 points in the quarter.
An immediate answer, however, by the Eagles was able to beat the buzzer that brought the score to a close 25-21 going into the second quarter.
The Bruins began the second quarter with success on both ends of the floor going on a run that put them up by 10 early.
At the mid-way point in the quarter, the Eagles picked their game up offensively, as they were able to maneuver around Belmont’s defense and put them back within 5 points.
The Bruins were able to remain up with a lead of 44-39 at halftime despite going 1-7 in in the last two minutes of the half.
Belmont began the third quarter heavily contested by the Eagles, but quickly went on a 7-0 run led by Harmeyer in three minutes to put them up 55-47.
The Bruins continued to dominate, especially in the paint as they scored 10 of their 18 third quarter points in the low post. The Bruins offensive efforts inside brought the score to 62-54 as they entered the final 10 minutes.
The final quarter began silently for both teams offensively until Chinn sparked her team’s momentum with back-to-back baskets that began at the six minute mark.
The Eagles forced the Bruins to four turnovers that led to a three minute scoring drought in the final minutes of the quarter.
The Bruins, however, continued to fight to the end and sealed their win by keeping the Eagles scoreless for the last three minutes of the game, leading to a final score of 71-62.
The Bruins will head off on a three game road tour, first to face the Murray State Racers on Thursday at 3p.m..
They will then make their way closer to home to take on Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech respectively.
Although this is Belmont’s longest stretch away, coach Bart Brooks feels more than prepared for the road ahead.
“We have work to do but we’re prepared for the road,” said Brooks. “Being that we were on the road for seven of our 11 non-conference games we’re ready to take on all styles of play.”
— Article written by Julieann Challacombe. Photos by Bronte Lebo.