Final Box
NASHVILLE - The Belmont Bruins knocked down nine three pointers in the first quarter leading to a dominating 98-57 win over Eastern Illinois women's basketball. The Panthers fall to 10-16 overall and 4-11 in the OVC, while the Bruins improve to 21-5 overall and 14-1 in the OVC.
Belmont opened the first quarter with a 12-0 run on 4-of-4 from three-point range forcing an EIU timeout.
Grace Lennox scored five straight points for EIU breaking the run. The Bruins would finish the first quarter 9-of-12 from the arc making their first seven. Darby Maggard was 5-of-5 from three-point range leading Belmont with 15 points in the first ten minutes.
The Bruins continued their hot-shooting into the second quarter expanding their success into the paint. They put up 21 points in the second quarter with eight points off layups inside. They also knocked-down another three shots from the arc.
Karle Pace stepped up in the second for the Panthers scoring seven points as Belmont led 56-29 into the break.
Taylor Steele and
Kira Arthofer found their offensive stride a little too late in the second half for the Panthers. Steele scored eiht points in the third quarter to reach double-figures for the 18th time this season. Arthofer added another eight in the third to tie her career-high in a single quarter, but Belmont would walk away with their 13th straight win.
Pace and Steele each finished with 13 points to lead the Panthers. Arthofer added a new career-high of nine points to go with four assists.Â
Belmont tied the single game three-point record finishing 19-of-37 from the arc. Maggard was 7-of-13 with 25 points and seven assists. Conley Chinn finished completed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while three other Bruins scored in double-figures.
EIU will be back in action for their final road game of the regular season this Saturday. The Panthers tip-off at 5:30 pm vs. Tennessee State.