NASHVILLE – Bella Vinson became the newest member of the 1,000-point club for the Lipscomb University women's basketball team, but it was not enough as the Bisons dropped the 78th edition of the Battle of the Boulevard to the Bruins of Belmont University, 63-55, Wednesday evening inside Allen Arena.
The Bruins entered Wednesday's game ranked 23rd in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Poll.
Final Score: No. 23 Belmont 63, Lipscomb 55
Location: Allen Arena
Records: Lipscomb (6-3), Belmont (4-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a slow start for the offense, as the Bruins got out to a 16-5 lead with 3:20 left in the opening quarter. However, Lipscomb got it down to two on a
Bella Vinson driving layup with a minute remaining.
Unfortunately, the Bruins scored the final four points to lead 19-13 after a quarter of play.
In the second quarter, the Bruins swelled the lead to 14 late in the first half and took a 34-23 halftime lead.
In the third, the Bisons dropped the deficit down to one with an
Ainhoa Cea driving layup and held the Bruins to 1-of-10 shooting. Despite Lipscomb outscoring Belmont 18-12, nine of the Bruins' 12 points came at the charity stripe. They used those free shots late to lead 46-41 after 30 minutes.
After the Bruins swelled the lead to nine, 56-47, with 5:18 to go, the Bisons went on an 8-0 run thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers by
Jalyn Holcomb and a
Claira McGowan field goal off a Belmont turnover.
Unfortunately, the 56-55 deficit was as close as the home team would get, as the Bruins held the Bisons to no points in the final 4:03 of the game.
KEY STATISTICS
Bella Vinson led all scorers with 15 points and added six rebounds.
Claira McGowan totaled 10 points with five boards and two thefts.
HERD NOTES
For
Bella Vinson, her field goal to start the third quarter saw her join the 1,000 point club on Wednesday. The senior became the 10th Bison in the Division I era to surpass the milestone.
Here's the video highlight of her 1,000th career point.
UP NEXT
After a break for final exams, the Bisons return to the hardwood on Sunday, Dec. 15 with a matchup at the University of Missouri.
