Memphis Standard

Scoring a season-high 44 points in the first half, the Belmont University women's basketball team began its inaugural Missouri Valley Conference schedule with a convincing 74-60 victory over visiting Valparaiso University Friday evening inside the Curb Event Center. Paced by a trio of double-figure scorers, the Bruins (5-7, 1-0 MVC) won their second straight after returning from a 10-day Christmas break.

In its first-ever matchup with the visiting Beacons (2-7, 0-1 MVC), Belmont forced 22 turnovers and got 32 points off its bench. The Bruins scored 34 points in the paint and 20 points off Valparaiso's miscues and led for just over 37 minutes of the contest.

Junior forward Madison Bartley registered her second 20-point outing of the season, posting a game-high 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting, and Belmont led by as much as 23 late.

After going scoreless the first two minutes of the game, the Bruins went on a 10-0 run and led 10-3 just over four minutes in following five consecutive points from Bartley. Another Bartley basket kept Belmont in front by seven at 19-12 and the Bruins led 22-15 after the first quarter of action.
 
Capping the opening quarter with her second triple, Bartley scored 14 of Belmont's 22 first-quarter points.

Going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc across the first 10 minutes of play, the Bruins started 9-for-15 (60 percent) from the field.

Sophomore guard Kilyn McGuff gave Belmont its first double-digit lead of the night at 31-19 with a quick-trigger wing three-pointer midway through the second quarter. Moments later, graduate guard Sydni Harvey cashed in a three of her own to hold the lead at 12. The Bruins ended the first half on an 8-3 run as sophomore forward Kendal Cheesman hit back-to-back treys off assists from junior guard Destinee Wells in the final two minutes.

Just like the first quarter, Belmont outscored the Beacons 22-15 in the second quarter and led 44-30 at the break. Bartley had 18 points in the first half with the Bruins going 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) from deep and shooting 51.4 percent (18-of-35) overall. Of Belmont's 44 first-half points, 26 came off the bench.

The Bruins held Valparaiso to 41.7 percent (10-of-24) shooting in the first half, but the Beacons went 7-for-17 (41.2 percent) from long range behind Olivia Brown's 4-for-5 display from distance.

Valparaiso started the second half on a 10-4 run and climbed within eight at 48-40 on a Leah Earnest fastbreak layup with 4:11 to go in the third quarter. However, it would be as close as the Beacons would get for the remainder of the game. Outscoring Valparaiso 12-5 over the last four minutes of the third quarter, Belmont headed into the final stanza holding a 60-45 advantage.

Going 6-for-6 at the charity stripe, Wells scored eight points in the third quarter. In fact, 10 of the Bruins' 16 points in the third came at the free-throw line as Belmont went 10-for-11 at the charity stripe
 
Connecting on three of their six three-point attempts in the quarter, the Beacons shot 66.7 percent (6-of-9) in the third.

A lengthy 12-4 run over the first 7:39 of the fourth quarter put the Bruins up 72-49 with just 2:21 to go. Sophomore forward Tessa Miller scored on a layup to give Belmont its first 20-point lead with a little under three minutes left before nailing a jump shot to extend the Bruins' lead to their largest.

Valparaiso closed the game on an 11-2 run.

The Beacons went 5-for-10 from the field in the fourth quarter and shot 57.9 percent (11-of-19) in the second half, including going 4-for-10 from three-point range.
 
Despite not making a three in the second half (0-of-6) and shooting 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the field, Belmont went 12-for-15 (80 percent) at the foul line.
 
The Bruins finished 45.8 percent (27-of-59) from the floor for the game, including going 8-for-19 (42.1 percent) from outside. Valparaiso went 11-for-27 (40.7 percent) from distance for the night and was 48.8 percent (21-of-43) overall from the field.

Bartley added five rebounds in only 20 minutes off the bench, while Wells scored 19, distributed a game-high six assists and came up with a pair of steals. McGuff had another outstanding game, recording 11 points and grabbing six boards to go along with two assists. Miller notched eight points and six rebounds.

Brown led the Beacons with 18 points on 6-for-8 three-point shooting and fellow starting guard Ava Interrante posted 14 points. Ali Saunders contributed 10 points and a team-best five assists off the bench for Valparaiso.

Of Note
The consecutive victories are the first for Belmont this season. Head coach Bart Brooks improves to 81-9 (.900) in conference play. Improving to 3-2 at home this season, the Bruins are 105-24 (.814) at the Curb since the start of their 2012-13 campaign. Coach Brooks is 57-10 (.851) at home since taking over the reins of the program. Freshman guard Brooke Highmark played a career-high 22 minutes and dished out a career-best three assists. She also made two tough baskets while being fouled.
 
Up Next
Belmont closes out its three-game homestand Sunday with the University of Illinois Chicago. Tipoff of the New Year's Day matchup is set for 2 p.m. from the Curb with the league game broadcast on ESPN+. Next weekend, the Bruins embark on their first MVC road trip when they travel to Drake next Friday and Northern Iowa next Sunday, Jan. 8. 

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