WILMORE, Ky. --- Asbury women's basketball's (15-8, 12-2 CCS) 12 game win-streak was snapped on Saturday afternoon by Belhaven University (13-9, 10-4 CCS), 76-69. The game was AU's last road regular season match of the season, finishing the year with a 7-4 record in away competition.
Asbury was led in scoring by four-time reigning CCS Rookie of the Week
Emily Sizemore's 19 points and two steals. The sophomore had an efficient day shooting 7-14 from the field and 5-9 from beyond the arc.
AU was paced in scoring by
Ma'Kiya West and
Haleigh Releford who both added double-digits in the scoring department. West poured in 15 points and eight boards, while Releford dropped in 12 and seven rebounds.
Belhaven led into the break by four after a 20 points first quarter, and holding AU to 30 first half points. The Blazers expanded their lead in the third taking a nine point lead into the last frame. Asbury would get things to a tie at 67-67 with just 3:30 to go, before a BU 9-2 run to close things out and grant the Eagles their first loss since January 4th.
The Blazers had the advantage in the paint scoring 44 points, while AU scored 20.
Belhaven was led in scoring by Ebony Gayden's 20 points and nine rebounds. Ally Alford added 12 points for the Blazers and also nine assists. Savannah Hailey contributed 14 points off the bench on 7-13 FG.
The Eagles edged out the Blazers in the rebounding department 41-39. BU grabbing eight ORB and AU 14.
AU finished 23-73 (32%) from the field while the Blazers shot 30-69 (44%). AU hit on 12 three-pointers tonight (five from
Emily Sizemore), Belhaven hitting on just four.
Asbury committed 19 turnovers on 10 Belhaven steals, the Blazers committed 14 turnovers on eight steals for the Eagles. Asbury turned the turnovers into 12 points, BU turning Eagle turnovers into 15. AU has now turned over their opponents double-digit times in 21 of their 23 games on the season.
Asbury scored 17 bench points, while BU put up 36.
There was eight lead changes and five tie scores throughout the game.
Asbury drops to 12-2 and second in the conference, while Belhaven improves their standing to 10-4 in the CCS and third place.
The game was the last between the Blazers and Eagles on the year, with the teams splitting the season series and the home team winning each match.
"Tonight's loss was on me. I didn't have the ladies ready for the environment here at Belhaven, and that won't happen again. We lost the game in the first half to be honest. Playing here at Belhaven is a great opportunity, but is very difficult. It will help us get prepared for the postseason going forward. We will get back to practice, prepare for the two games we have next week and be ready to go."
Chad Mayes | Head Women's Basketball Coach
Asbury comes home for their last two games of the regular season, taking on Covenant on 2/20 and Wesleyan on 2/22 at the Luce.
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Emily Sizemore | 19 PTS (5-9 3 PT), 2 STL
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Ma'Kiya West | 15 PTS, 8 REB
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Haleigh Releford | 12 PTS, 7 REB
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Camryn Poole | 5 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL
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Camryn Preston | 6 PTS, 5 REB
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Morgan Flannery | 5 AST, 4 REB
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