Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Video Archive | Audio ArchiveNASHVILLE, Tenn. - Junior forward
Shay Steele led the way with 16 points, but it wasn't enough as the Morehead State women's basketball team fell at Belmont, 99-71.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 9-15 overall and 3-7 in league play. Belmont improves to 15-7 and 7-3 in the OVC.
"We kept playing hard, but we had a hard time matching up tonight," said head coach
Greg Todd. "They have so many ways that they can score the basketball and they are very efficient with a lot of tremendous shooters. For us to have a chance to win, we need to do a better job rebounding, and hopefully we can do that when they come to our place next week."
With 5:24 to go in the second quarter, Steele made one of two free throws to trim the Belmont lead to 30-27. But, the Bruins outscored the Eagles 20-10 in the closing minutes of the first half to open up a 50-37 lead and they never looked back.
Morehead State trimmed the lead to 12 at the beginning of the third quarter on a three-pointer by junior guard
Brianna McQueen, but they would not get closer.
Belmont netted 10 three-pointers in the game to Morehead State's five and outrebounded the Eagles, 48-34. The Bruins committed just eight turnovers, marking the first time this season that MSU has forced less than 10 turnovers in a game.
Five Eagles finished in double figures, led by Steele's 16. She was 7-of-12 from the floor, while adding four rebounds and two assists.Â
McQueen and freshman guard
Miranda Crockett both finished with 14 points, while McQueen added six assists. Freshman forward
Georgia Campbell played 16 minutes and added 12 points, a career-high. She was 4-of-6 from the field and 4-of-8 from the free throw line.
Belmont's Kylee Smith recorded a game-high 27 points, while adding 12 rebounds and seven assists. She was 5-of-9 from three-point land and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe.
The Eagles remain in Nashville to face Tennessee State on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
