Box Score
Jackson, MS-After three straight tough losses, the Belhaven women's basketball team returned home Saturday night and defeated Dillard University 56-47 to go to 13-9 on the season and 4-7 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. With the loss, Dillard falls to 8-13 and 1-10 in the GCAC.

The game remained close throughout the first half as both teams traded baskets over the course of the first 17 minutes. The Bleu Devils jumped out to an early four point lead at 8-4 with 18:15 left in the first half on a three point basket by Jessica Small. Belhaven quickly answered back with two back to back layups by Octavia Mullins to tie the score at 8-8. Mallory Hammack put Belhaven on top 13-10 with an outside jumper with 13:13 left in the opening period.

Dillard then fought back to take a five point lead 22-17 with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime. After both teams exchanged a couple of baskets, the Blazers were able to gain some momentum going into the break when Reneka Thompson connected on a layup assisted by Karli Kenley with one second on the clock to give Belhaven a 31-26 halftime lead.

The Blazers came out in the second half and quickly put together a 13-0 run making the score 39-26 on a layup by Jira Williams. The Bleu Devils battled back to break down the lead to two points at 47-49 with a layup by Jazzmin Smith off an assist by Alrieon Bevins at 4:09 to play in the contest. Belhaven responded by pushing the score to 52-47 on a layup by Brittany Carr at the 1:02 mark and went on to post a nine point 56-47 victory. Williams had a big night for the Blazers scoring a game high 19 points and six rebounds followed by Mullins who had a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Blazers connected on 34.4 percent of their field goals, 23.5 percent of their three point attempts, and 52.6 percent of their free throws. Belhaven outrebounded Dillard 51-33 on the boards and grabbed 24 offensive rebounds and 27 defensive rebounds. The Blazers also took advantage of the Bleu Devils 14 turnovers converting those into 18 points.

Dillard was led on offense by Jazzmin Smith with 12 points followed by Jessica Small with nine points. Smith grabbed a game high eight rebounds for the Bleu Devils. The Bleu Devils made 33.3 percent of their field goals, 37.5 percent of their free throws going, and made just 17.4 percent of their shots from beyond the three point arc.

Belhaven travels to William Carey University on Monday in another GCAC matchup which is slated to get underway at 5:30 PM.