Belhaven Women’s Basketball Falls to Maryville in Tight Conference Game
Maryville, Tenn. — Belhaven women’s basketball team fell short Saturday in a 59-54 loss at the Cooper Athletic Center. The game was a back-and-forth battle with 16 lead changes and three ties, according to sources.
The Blazers, now 12-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, led in points in the paint (36-28) and second-chance points (19-7), but struggled with cold shooting at key moments, the sources said.
The opening quarter was physical and defensive-minded. Belhaven had difficulty finding an offensive rhythm early but stayed close through aggressive rebounding. Kyla Farmer provided a spark off the bench with second-chance points, and Savannah Hailey scored a fast-break layup after a steal to halt an early run. Ny Jones hit two free throws late in the quarter to tie the game at 15-15 as the first period ended.
Belhaven briefly took control early in the second quarter. Veronica Williams scored in transition, and Katelyn Coleman added a basket in the paint, giving the Blazers a four-point lead. The game remained competitive with five lead changes, and Hailey scored multiple times in the paint to keep Belhaven ahead. However, Maryville rallied late in the half, and the teams went into halftime tied at 34-34.
The third quarter saw more momentum swings. Coleman opened with a basket, and Williams scored on a fast break to put Belhaven ahead briefly. Maryville responded with transition baskets and perimeter shooting, retaking the lead. Hailey scored twice in the paint to narrow the gap, but a late run by the Scots gave them a 48-43 lead heading into the final period. Belhaven was held to just 10 points in the third quarter, according to reports.
In the fourth quarter, Belhaven fought to stay in the game. Hailey scored four straight points early, cutting the margin to five. After a defensive stop, she added a putback to bring the score to 54-49 with just over three minutes remaining. Despite multiple chances, the Blazers couldn’t complete the comeback. Coleman made a fast-break layup under two minutes left, and Hailey hit a three-pointer at 1:14 to bring Belhaven within three. Maryville responded in transition, and Belhaven was unable to score in the final possessions.
Hailey led all scorers with 22 points. Coleman contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, while Williams added eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds. The team finished with 48 rebounds and forced 16 turnovers. The Blazers will travel to LaGrange on Thursday for a rematch against the Panthers, with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m., according to team sources.
Follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram for updates, and like the team on Facebook. Fans can support Belhaven athletics through Team Green Giving, the school’s donation program.
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