JACKSON, Miss.– In the final game before the New Year, the Belhaven University women's basketball team earned a key victory to defeat Mississippi University for Women, 65-60, on Saturday afternoon in the final home non-conference game on the season.
 
 
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
 
Final: Belhaven 65 | MUW 54
 
Records: BU (6-5) | MUW (10-4)
 
Location: Rugg Arena | Jackson, Miss.
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED
 
- Both teams struggled from the field in the first five minutes of the opening quarter. Erika Smith tied the game up at 8 after a made three-pointer at the 3:50 mark of the first quarter.

- The Owls closed out the opening frame hanging on to the slight 12-10 lead over the Blazers.

- Belhaven and MUW exchanged buckets in the first two minutes of the first quarter until Autumn Covington and Lauren Brooks made a layup to give the Blazers the three-point advantage.

- The Blazers and the Owls remained close for the rest of the second quarter, as both teams were tied at 25 going into the halftime break.

- Belhaven came out of the break firing on all cylinders, as the Green and Gold went on a 19-5 run in the opening five minutes of action of the third frame.

- The Owls bounced back in the ladder part of the quarter, but Belhaven remained ahead 47-42 going into the fourth quarter.

- The Blazers outscored the Owls 9-2 to begin the final frame, as Belhaven extended their lead to 12 to bring the score to 56-44 at the 6:15 mark.

- With 3:13 remaining in the game, Peyton Papenburg's made layup gave Belhaven a 13-point lead, which was their largest lead in the contest.

- MUW rallied back to cut the lead to three points with only 13 seconds left in regulation. The Blazers held on to capture the 65-60 victory over the MUW Owls.
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KEY STATISTICS
 
- Peyton Papenburg and Lauren Brooks each scored a double-double in the win over MUW. Papenburg led the Blazers with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Brooks added 14 points and grabbed a team-high 12 rebounds in the contest. 

- Erika Smith tallied nine points and was 3-for-5 from behind the three-point line. Additionally, she earned thee assists and one block during the game.

- Autumn Covington shot 50 percent from the field, behind the three-point line, and from the charity stripe.

- Alexis Caldwell scored six points with nine rebounds, while Brittany Ford totaled five points and shot 100 percent from the free throw line.

- Lyles finished with three points and Calhoun, Pugh and Sims scored two points in the contest.

- As a team, the Blazers shot 73.3 percent from the charity stripe, had 36 points in the paint, had 21 fast break points, and finished with 18 points from the bench. 
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UP NEXT
 
The Blazers return to the court on Thursday, January 3, to take on the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor to open up home conference play. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
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