JACKSON, Miss.– The Belhaven University women's basketball team earned their second consecutive win tonight, after defeating Rhodes College 60-53 inside Rugg Arena for the home opener.
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INSIDE THE MATCHUP
 
Final: Belhaven 60 | Rhodes College 53
 
Records: BU (3-3) | RC (6-2)
 
Location: Rugg Arena | Jackson, Miss.
 
Get Social: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram  | @BelhavenBlazers | www.blazers.belhaven.edu
 
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Shots were scarce on both sides of the ball until the 4:52 mark when the Blazers jumped ahead of the Lynx making the score of 4-2.

- For the next five minutes of the first period, Belhaven and Rhodes College exchanged shots. The Blazers took advantage of the missed opportunities by the Lynx and took the 11-6 lead heading into the second quarter.

- Belhaven open the second period of play going on a 5-0 run, after shots were made by Lauren Brooks and Brittany Ford to extend their lead by 10 points.

- With 6:18 remaining until the break, Erika Smith knocked down a three-pointer to increase Belhaven's 23-11 lead over Rhodes.

- Rhodes cut the lead to eight points at the 3:42 mark, but the Blazers rallied back to take a 13 point lead for the largest lead of the night to bring the score to 32-19 with 1:39 left until halftime.

- On the following possession, Rhodes made a jumper and AaLiyaha Thornton answer with a jumper herself to make the score 34-21 at intermission.

- Belhaven went cold from the field for the first four minutes in the third quarter until Lauren Brooks drained a free throw to bring the score to 35-25.

- After a made layup by Rhodes, the Lynx cut the lead to just six points with 3:03 remaining in the third period.

- Belhaven went on an 8-4 run to close out the third frame to take the 48-38 advantage heading into the final quarter.

- The Green and Gold opened the fourth quarter going on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 55-38 for the largest lead of the contest.

- Rhodes tried to rally late in the fourth frame, but the Blazers held strong defeating the Lynx 60-53 in the home opener.
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KEY STATISTICS
 
- There were 10 players in tonight's contest that scored for the Green and Gold.

- Lauren Brooks lead the Blazers with 13 points, eight rebounds and one steal.

- AaLiyaha Thornton went 2-for 3 from the charity stripe, while tallying a total of nine points and led the team with three steals.

- Alexis Caldwell added eight points in the win to go along with seven rebounds.

- Destiny Johnson had a solid night, posting seven points and four rebounds.

- Brittany Ford shot 50 percent from the free throw line and had five rebounds and six points.

- Payton Papenburg, Erika Smith, and DeQuandra Lyles each scored five points in the win over Rhodes.

- Autumn Covington and Shanda Pugh rounded out the scoring for the Blazers with a point.

- As a team, the Green and Gold shot 18-for 26 from the charity stripe, while posting 19 points from the bench and 13 second chance points.
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UP NEXT
 
The Blazers will take a break from competition for finals and then will make the long road trip out to Alpine, Texas to take on Sul Ross State University on December 13^that 5:30 p.m.
 
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