Box Score
Montgomery, AL-The Belhaven women's basketball team saw their four game winning streak come to an end Thursday night falling 72-63 at Auburn University-Montgomery in their Southern States Athletic Conference opener. The Blazers struggled on the offensive end of the floor and the Senators, despite turning the ball over 23 times, scratched out the win.

Belhaven (11-5, 0-1 SSAC) was led by Jessica Barlow who matched a season high 20 points and posted as season best 15 rebounds including 10 on the offensive glass. It was Barlow's fifth double double of the season and in the last five games she has put up at least 10 points or more. Following Thursday's game, Barlow is averaging 10.1 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Regena Jackson followed Barlow with 19 points and dished out six assists. Unfortunately, Barlow and Jackson were the only players to reach double figures as AUM's defense held everyone else in check including Kiara Johnson and Sarah Carr limiting them to six points each. Both Carr and Johnson were averaging over 11 points per game coming into Thursday night.

The Blazers only hit 27.8 percent of their field goals (22-79), connected on 17.2 percent of their triples (5-29), and converted 66.7 of their free throws (14-21). Belhaven was outrebounded 52-46, but pulled down 26 offensive rebounds which led to 25 second chance points. Belhaven's defense also forced 23 turnovers leading to 28 points on the offensive end of the floor. Auburn-Montgomery's bench outscored the Blazers 38-2.

Auburn-Montgomery (9-8, 1-0 SSAC) had a big night from Stephanie Torrence who fired in 29 points off the bench hitting 9 of her 15 field goal attempts including seven from three point land. Carlie Ainsworth followed with 12 points and Rachel Cunningham recorded a double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds on the night. Kamesha Strong had six assists and four points.

The Senators knocked down 39.6 percent of their field goals (21-53), dialed up 32.0 percent of their triples (8-25), and cashed in 78.6 percent of their free throws (22-28). The Senators had 18 second chance points and forced 12 Belhaven turnovers which produced 10 points in the contest.

Belhaven started hot rolling out of the gate with the first seven points of the game. Jessica Barlow bagged a jumper 20 seconds into the contest and then capped the run with a free throw with 14:56 left in the first half. However, Belhaven didn't take full advantage of the Senator's slow start. Following Barlow's free throw, the Blazers would go nearly six minutes without adding to their point total. In the meantime, Auburn-Montgomery finally got on the board themselves on a Caitlin Cunningham basket at the 13:17 mark of the opening period. That field goal began an 18-2 Senator run the put them on top 18-9 with 5:09 to play until the break. Belhaven's only basket during that span was a Jackson jump shot with 9:10 on the first half clock.

AUM eventually pushed the advantage to 12 points at 27-15 with just under two minutes in the first half, but the Blazers regrouped with a 6-0 run to close the period and trailed 27-21 heading into the locker following a Barlow field goal with 32 seconds left.

Belhaven picked up right where they left off at halftime scoring the first eight points to regain the lead at 29-27 three minutes in to the second frame. Jackson's triple capped the 14-0 run and gave the Blazers their first lead since the 12 minute mark of the first half. The advantage was short lived though as Torrence put the Senators back in front for good with 15:20 left in the game on one of her seven three point baskets. AUM continued to add to the lead for the remainder of the game and enjoyed their largest edge of the night at 70-58 with just 52 seconds to go. The Blazers managed to chop the deficit to seven at 70-63 on a pair of field goals with 35 seconds to go, but could get no closer in the final moments.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday night when they return home to take on the University of Mobile in another SSAC contest. The tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM and fans can follow the action through live stats by clicking here.