SW Indiana News

Late Aces rally shows progress as Evansville falls to Bruins, 76-58

Producing a rally late in the fourth quarter, the University of Evansville women's basketball team battled to get itself back in the game before falling to Belmont, 76-58, on Sunday afternoon inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville.

"I thought we got good shots and they just didn't fall and then confidence kind of dips and that's where we still need to grow is being tougher through those moments and find a way to put the ball in the bucket," said Aces head women's basketball coach Robyn Scherr-Wells. "I though we got good shots and they didn't fall and then it kind of snowballs just not getting enough stops on the other end and before you know it we're spotting them a close to 20-point lead in that first quarter. That's tough to overcome against a team like that."

Recording her third 20-plus point performance of the season, fifth-year guard Myia Clark led Evansville on the afternoon, pouring-in 20 points, while adding four boards and a pair of assists. Also finishing in double-figures for the Aces was senior guard/forward Abby Feit, who tallied 14 points and six boards. THe Bruins were led by two players who finished with 18 points; Destinee Wells and Madison Bartley.

Evansville found itself in trouble early in the contest thanks to a consistent Belmont scoring attack and the fact that the Aces shots just would not fall. The Bruins built a 12-0 lead in the game's first four minutes, forcing an Evansville timeout. Out of the break, Belmont added to its advantage, scoring 17-straight points to begin the game before Clark made a layup just inside the final five minutes in the quarter. Evansville was haunted by poor shooting in the opening period, hitting just two of its first 20 field goals (10%) and trailing 23-5 after the first 10 minutes of action.

The Aces would do their best to dig out of that hole, shooting just shy of 50% from the field for the rest of the game. In the second quarter, Evansville would get as close as 16 on multiple occasions, but another spree to end the half from the Bruins gave the visitors a 41-20 lead at the break.

Belmont's advantage would grow as large as 27 in the third quarter, but again, it was Evansville who would not let the game get away. Over the final four minutes of the third frame, the Aces chipped away at the deficit, eventually getting a triple from Feit just before the quarter buzzer to get within 18 at 60-42 heading into the final 10 minutes.

Another triple from Feit and an and-one basket and freebie from Clark highlight Evansville's comeback attempt early in the fourth as Clark's aforementioned play trimmed the Belmont lead all the way to 11 with just under five minutes remaining. With a manageable deficit to work back from, the Aces looked poised to make another run at the Bruins, but down the stretch, Belmont knocked-down key shots to secure the 76-68 victory.

Evansville awaits a busy stretch of basketball ahead, beginning with a Wednesday matchup with Indiana State at 5 PM (CT) in Terre Haute, Ind.

 

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Original source can be found here.