The Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball team had a big first quarter but fell to Belmont University, 77-55, on Thursday night in Richmond, Kentucky.
Belmont (21-3, 11-0 OVC) received 16 votes in the latest Associated Press poll, ranking 27th in the nation.
The Bruins used a 14-2 run, extending from late in the second period into the third, to push its lead to 40-28 with 7:30 left in the third quarter.
A 9-1 run sparked by A’Queen Hayes late in the third quarter cut the Belmont lead to five, 49-44, with 36 seconds remaining in the quarter. The junior scored six of the nine points and capped it with a pair of free throws. However, the Colonels never get any closer.
Belmont responded with a 15-4 run of its own to push the lead to 16, 64-48, with 5:13 remaining in the game.
Hayes recorded her sixth double-double in nine games, with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Wright pitched in 13 points with three rebounds. She made 4-of-8 from the field, including 2-of-5 from behind the three-point line.
Darby Maggard led the way for the Bruins with 14 points. Sally McCabe had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Belmont shot 49 percent from the field, compared to 31 percent for the Colonels. EKU turned the ball over just five times, six fewer than the Bruins, but turned those turnovers into just eight points.
Eastern Kentucky (7-13, 4-7 OVC) returns to court Saturday at home when they take on Tennessee State. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 p.m.
— www.EKUSports.com —
Kevin Britton
Assistant Athletics Director for Communications & Branding
