Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Bruins outscored EKU 17-7 in the opening quarter on their way to a 65-51 win at McBrayer Arena on Wednesday night.
 
The Colonels' defense limited the league's second highest scoring team to 9.6 points below its average in the loss.
 
EKU (15-11, 9-6 OVC) opened the second quarter on an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to two at 20-18, before Belmont slowly extended its lead back to double digits.

A three-pointer from junior Michaela Hunter on EKU's first possession of the second quarter sparked a 7-0 Colonel run. On the Colonels' ensuing possession, senior Shameekia Murray drew the foul on the offensive put back attempt, sending her to the line for two. Murray connected on both, narrowing the Bruins' lead to 17-12.
 
Junior Jalen O'Bannon netted jumpers on back-to-back trips. Hunter then found freshman Abby Wright in the paint for the score, pulling EKU within two, 20-18.
 
Belmont strung together a 6-0 run over the next 1:06 that started on an old-fashioned three-point play by Frankie Joubran. Kylee Smith capped the run with a three-pointer at the 4:22 mark, extending the Bruins' lead to 10.
 
EKU's Mariah Massengill scored two of her six points on the night in the closing minute to trim the Belmont lead to eight at the break.
 
Baskets from senior Miranda Maples and Massengill got the Colonels within six to open the third period, trailing 34-28, with 7:19 left in the third. However, EKU would not get any closer for the remainder of the contest.  
 
Both teams struggled from the field in the opening 10 minutes, shooting a combined 10-for-34 from the field.
 
O'Bannon logged her 14th double-double of the season, finishing with 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Colonels.  
 
The Colonels conclude the regular season at Tennessee Tech on Saturday in the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader. The women's game is slated to tip at 6:30 p.m. ET.