NASHVILLE – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team took a four point lead into halftime at Belmont on Wednesday, but the Bruins used a big third quarter to take down the visiting Aces 77-67 in both teams’ MVC opener.
Logan Luebbers Palmer (Union, Ky./Randall K. Cooper) paced the Aces with 18 points, tying a career-high and UE single-game high this season with six three point field goals. Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) posted her eighth consecutive double-digit scoring effort, scoring 16 points and adding seven rebounds while playing all 40 minutes. Mireia Mustaros (Barcelona, Spain/Ins Argentona) had her top scoring performance as an Ace, scoring nine points while adding six rebounds and two assists. Mustaros knocked down five of six free throws, helping the Aces go 12-for-14 from the line as a team.
Mustaros scored the first three points for Evansville, sinking three of four free throws on two trips to the line, while a three by Luebbers Palmer and a jumper by BeAunna Ward (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs School) gave the Aces an 8-6 lead at the 5:44 mark of the first quarter. Belmont regained the lead with a nine-point swing, but a basket by Runner, a triple from Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) and two more free throws by Mustaros evened the score at 15-15 at the end of the quarter.
Both teams traded blows early in the second quarter, as the game remained deadlocked at the 6:40 mark with a score of 21-21. Jelena Savic (Melbourne, Australia/Kurunjang Secondary College) briefly regained the lead for the Aces with a three-pointer to make it 24-23 before the Bruins took it back with a pair of baskets. However, Evansville would go on a run in the final four minutes of the half, with a three-point basket by Huber capping a 12-5 run to end the half, giving the Aces a 36-32 lead at the break.
The game remained a back-and-forth affair early in the third quarter, with Belmont holding a 42-40 lead with 5:41 to play in the period. However, the Bruins would go on a run from there, outscoring the Aces 12-4 across the final five and a half minutes of the quarter to go into the final period with a 54-44 lead.
Belmont extended their lead early in the fourth quarter, taking a 60-44 lead at the six minute mark. Evansville clawed back to stay within fighting distance, cutting the deficit to seven with 2:17 to go on the backs of five three-pointers, including three from Luebbers Palmer. That was as close as the Aces would get, however, as Belmont hung on for a 77-67 win to begin MVC play.
The Aces wrap up their non-conference slate on Sunday with a trip to Dayton to take on the Flyers. Tip-off is set for Noon CT.
