Second half comeback not enough for UE women’s basketball at Belmont
The Purple Aces eclipsed the 60-point mark for the second game in a row
NASHVILLE – Despite a strong second half on the floor the University of Evansville women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome the red-hot Belmont Bruins.
A cold first half on offense kept the Purple Aces behind in their 90-65 loss to Belmont on Friday night. UE improved its scoring by over 20% in the second half against the Bruins, pouring in 24 points in the final 10 minutes. Sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) led Evansville on offense with her first 20-point performance in over a month.
The Aces had their first basket of the night just over a minute into the game. But it’d be three minutes before UE scored again as Belmont lept out to an early nine-point lead. Evansville put together a brief four-point run to get within five points. That would be the closest the Aces would get to the Bruins as Belmont ended the first quarter on a 15-2 run.
UE’s offensive woes continued in the second quarter as they didn’t find the basket until two minutes in. Evansville traded baskets with the Bruins for two minutes early in the quarter. But another big run to end the half from Belmont had the Aces facing a 28-point deficit after 20 minutes of action.
The Bruins pushed their lead out to 32 points early in the third quarter. UE was able to work inside the lane in the third quarter with three field goals in the first four minutes. Belmont responded with an eight-point run to take its largest lead of the game at 40. Evansville’s defense went to work keeping the Bruins scoreless from the floor for the next two minutes as the offense added eight points. In the final minute of the third, the Aces added five straight points to make it a 71-41 game.
UE had its best quarter of the night in the fourth, making seven field goals and six free throws. Evansville got to the line early as Hartwig added two within the first 15 seconds of the quarter. Belmont matched with free throws and a layup of their own. But the Aces were able to respond with a four-point run as senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu d’Urgell, Spain) hit her first three of the game.
The two teams went basket for basket over the next minute and a half. UE put together its best run of the game with seven straight points halfway into the fourth to bring the deficit down to 22. But Evansville was unable to string another run in the final five minutes of the game, falling to the Bruins 90-65.
Four Aces were in double figures on Friday including Hartwig (20), Palomo (11), and freshman guards Avery Kelley (13) and Camryn Runner (10). On defense, Hartwig and freshman Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Penn. / Greater Latrobe HS) had six rebounds apiece while Palomo recorded UE’s only block.
Evansville continues its road trip to the top of the Missouri Valley Conference on Sunday. The Aces will play one of the top five offenses in the country in the Murray State Racers. Tip-off from CFSB Arena on Sunday, January 26 is set for 2 p.m.
