Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to tie the game with less than three minutes to go, but Belmont held on for an 82-73 win on Thursday in Nashville.
 
The Bruins led 63-53 to start the fourth quarter, but the Colonels out-scored the home squad 20-10 to start the final frame to erase the deficit.  A jumper from Jamilyn Kinney with 3:29 remaining in the game had Belmont in front by seven, 73-66, but EKU scored seven straight to tie it.
 
Kendall Wingler connected on a three-pointer before Emma Hacker sank a pair of free throws to get it to two, 73-71.  Alice Recanati's leaning jumper in the paint with 2:06 to play knotted the score at 73-73.
 
Conley Chinn answered at the other end with a three-pointer to put an end to the Eastern Kentucky run and begin what would prove to be a game-ending 9-0 run for the Bruins.
 
Jayla Johnson led the Colonels (6-11, 5-8 OVC) with a season-high 26 points.  She hit on 10-of-18 from the field.  Hacker had 16 points and five rebounds.  Wingler contributed 15 points, six boards and four assists.  Eastern shot 48 percent from the field for the game.
 
Destinee Wells had 26 points, four rebounds and four assists for Belmont (11-5, 8-3 OVC).
 
With the Bruins up 3-2 early in the game, Hacker hit a three-pointer to begin a 12-0 EKU run.  Johnson scored six of the 12 points.  A put-back and free throw from Bria Bass capped the run and gave the Colonels a 14-3 advantage.
 
After a lay-up from Bass put the visitors in front 19-7 with 3:06 remaining in the first quarter, Belmont went on a run of its own.  The Bruins used a 15-2 spurt to turn the 12-point deficit into a 1-point lead.  A lay-up by Wells got the run started.  A three-pointer from Tuti Jones with 23 seconds to go in the first got Belmont to within one, 21-20.  Madison Bartley's lay-up to start the second quarter completed the run and put the home team ahead 22-21.
 
Johnson put an end to the Bruin run with a three-pointer to swing the advantage back to the Colonels, 24-22.  Hacker's third three-pointer of the first half with 3:52 on the clock in the second quarter gave Eastern Kentucky a one-point edge, 30-29.
 
However, Belmont scored the next seven points, initiated by a three-pointer from Chinn, and the Bruins never trailed again.
 
The Colonels got within two on three occasions in the third quarter.  A jumper by Wingler made it a 46-44 game.  Two free throws from Wingler closed the gap to 48-46.  A jumper from Johnson cut it to 50-48.  A 13-5 Bruin run to end the third pushed the lead to 10, 62-53.
 
Eastern Kentucky's trip to Nashville continues with a game at Tennessee State on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.