JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven Women's Basketball team secured a crucial 70-61 victory over Maryville in a hard-fought matchup between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the CCS standings on Friday evening. Despite trailing at halftime, the Blazers surged in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback and earn their 14th win of the season.
Belhaven started the game strong, jumping out to an 18-9 lead after the first quarter, fueled by a balanced offensive attack and aggressive defense. However, Maryville responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Blazers 25-12 to take a 34-30 halftime lead.
The Blazers struggled offensively in the third quarter but managed to keep pace with Maryville. Entering the fourth quarter trailing 54-47, Belhaven turned up the intensity on both ends of the floor. They outscored Maryville 23-7 in the final period, securing the win with clutch shooting and defensive stops.
Belhaven's depth played a major role in the victory, with the bench contributing 31 points compared to Maryville's 14. The Blazers dominated inside, scoring 34 points in the paint and grabbing 18 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points.
Ebony Gayden led the charge for Belhaven, posting a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. She was efficient from the field, shooting 8-15, and made key free throws down the stretch. Savannah Hailey contributed 13 points and was active on the glass, securing nine rebounds.
Veronica Williams and Katelyn Coleman provided valuable scoring depth, combining for 19 points off the bench. Kiersten Hudson played a pivotal role in the fourth quarter, hitting two key three-pointers and finishing with six points and six assists.
With the win, Belhaven secures the No. 3 seed in the upcoming CCS tournament with one game remaining on their regular season schedule. The Blazers are guaranteed to host the No. 6 seed in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Tuesday, February 25th.
Next up for the Blazers is the season finale against Agnes Scott at Rugg Arena tomorrow afternoon. Tip off against the Scotties is set for 2:00 PM.
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