Beacons Fall to MVC-Leading Belmont
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The Valpo women’s basketball team was unable to keep pace with MVC leader Belmont Friday evening in the Beacons’ return home to the ARC, as the visiting Bruins pulled away in the second half to a 69-41 victory.
How It Happened
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Belmont led 10-6 just past the halfway mark of the opening period before the Beacons held the Bruins scoreless for nearly four minutes. Baskets by Katie Beyer (McHenry, Ill./McHenry), Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) and Nevaeh Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) during that stretch gave Valpo a 12-10 advantage.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Bruins hit a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute of the first quarter to lead 16-12 10 minutes in.
–         Belmont’s lead reached double figures for the first time halfway through the second quarter and the Bruins held a 34-25 lead at halftime.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Belmont scored the first six points of the third quarter to pull out to a 15-point lead. Five points from Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [LaSalle]) brought Valpo back to within 42-32 with 4:20 to play in the quarter, but the Bruins went on a 12-3 spurt to end the period and lead 54-35 with 10 minutes to play.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Beacons were able to connect on just one field goal in the fourth quarter as Belmont pulled away for the final margin.
Inside the Game
–         Valpo’s 41 points were a season low. The Beacons shot just 26.9% from the field, were just 4-for-25 from 3-point range and committed 21 turnovers which Belmont turned into 23 points.
–         Beyer and Earnest tied for team-high honors with eight points. It marks the first time in Beyer’s career she has held or shared the team scoring lead.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â No Beacon reached double figures in the scoring column for the first time since Dec. 19, 2023 against Bethune-Cookman.
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Connolly finished with seven points and five rebounds, one off her career best.
Next Up
Valpo (8-14, 4-7 MVC) looks for a bounce-back performance Sunday afternoon as the Beacons host Murray State at 1 p.m.