FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Belmont 90, Presbyterian 48
@Wright State 82,
Tennessee Tech 59
@Alabam A&M 71,
Murray State 54
BELMONT 90, PRESBYTERIAN 48
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont women's basketball continued its hot shooting beyond the arc, draining 12 threes to cruise past Presbyterian College Friday morning at the Curb Event Center. The Bruins move to 7-2 on the season in the 90-48 victory over the Blue Hose.
BU put on a show for nearly 1,000 local elementary students, tallying their third 90+ point performance of the year. Four players scored in double digits with veteran duo Kylee Smith (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) leading the way, compiling 25 and 22 points, respectively. Sophomore Maddie Wright (Chattanooga, Tenn.) orchestrated a career day of her own, pouring in 14 points while going 6-for-7 from the field. Wright also tied a career-best with nine boards.
Junior guard Jenny Roy (Brentwood, Tenn.) contributed 11 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and the fifth of her career. Collectively, the squad shot 57 percent from the field, sinking 35 field goals and going 12-for-25 beyond the arc.
Presbyterian was led by 11 points and five assists from Janie Miles who hit three of the PC's five threes. Presbyterian shot 31 percent and collected 24 rebounds.
The early tip had little affect on the Bruins, with their first six buckets coming from three-point range. The team went 7-for-10 from afar in the first quarter against the Blue Hose, including a span in which Maggard drained three consecutive threes. The squad finished the first stanza on a 21-5 run, hitting their final four baskets to go up, 28-10, on Presbyterian.
Maggard showed no signs of letting up in the next frame as she hit a pull up three-pointer – her fifth of the morning - to extend BU's advantage, 39-14. Roy added momentum to the Bruins offense with an and-1 play that gave BU a 14-point lead. From then on Presbyterian was able to temporarily quiet the Bruins offense, scoring seven unanswered points while holding Belmont scoreless for more than three minutes. Maggard halted the drought with another three, ending the half going 6-for-9 from long range and leading the team with 20 points. BU was ahead, 47-26, at the break.
Belmont's hot shooting from three simmered a bit in the third as Smith hit the Bruins sole trey of the frame. However, the team still managed to outscored the Blue Hose, 21-15, to continue to distance themselves. Smith tallied seven points in the stanza to register her ninth double-digit scoring effort – doing so in every game of the season so far.
Smith scored 16 of her 25 points in the second half, as BU held PC to just seven points in the fourth. The team went on a 13-0 run while keeping the Blue Hose from scoring for more than four minutes. Belmont ended the game with its largest spread of the day, going up 42 points on Presbyterian.
Belmont will make the two-mile trek to neighborhood rival Lipscomb on Monday, Dec. 4 for the Battle of the Boulevard.
ALABAMA A&M 71, MURRAY STATE 54
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Murray State women’s basketball team fell on the road in non-conference action Friday night as the Racers lost at Alabama A&M 71-54 in Huntsville.
The Racers (2-6) struggled from the floor, shooting just 33 percent from the floor in the loss. MSU also made a season-low four 3-pointers while shooting just 19 percent from deep. The Lady Bulldogs (4-3) shot nearly 41 percent from the floor and doubled up the Racers on the glass, tallying a 56-28 advantage in rebounds.
MSU got off to a fast start in the contest, making the first three baskets of the game and seizing an early 6-0 lead. The Racers also led 11-5 early in the first quarter before the lid was put on the hoop as the Racers went the final 6:33 of the quarter without scoring as AAMU went on a 20-0 run to end the quarter.
AAMU led 38-21 at halftime and the Lady Bulldogs’ largest lead of the game was 26 late in the third quarter. The Racers’ second unit of Paige Barrett, Brianna Crane, Emma Johnson, Michaela Manley and Jessica Organ did well in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 18-9 in the final period.
Ke’Shunan James led MSU in the loss with 18 points and was the only Racer in double figures. Crane added nine points and finished a point shy of her second consecutive double-double as she grabbed 11 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass. Johnson chipped in with seven points.
The Racers were outscored in the paint 38-24 on the night and were at a 17-4 disadvantage in second-chance points. MSU did have a 17-14 edge on points scored off turnovers.
MSU is now off until Dec. 11 due to Finals Week, when it travels to face UNCG. The Racers have just three home contests in December, two of which are to open conference play.
WRIGHT STATE 82, TENNESSEE TECH 59
DAYTON, Ohio - Tennessee Tech fell on the road to Wright State, 82-59, on Friday night. With the loss the Golden Eagles fell to 1-5 on the season.
Kesha Brady led the team with 18 points, including hitting a pair of three-pointers. Yaktavia Hickson added 13 points while Asia Harper had 10 points. Akia Harris had nine points and team-best three assist.
Tennessee Tech returns to action on Sunday when it travels to Kenutcky.