NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Alabama A&M (0-4, 0-0 SWAC) stayed within double-digits at half but could not withstand a 35-point second half as they dropped a 63-34 decision to Belmont (3-1, 0-0 OVC) in an NCAA Division I women's basketball game on Thursday, November 18.
 
Graduate guard DeShawna Harper (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Bulldogs with 12 points along with six rebounds in 35 minutes of action while senior forward Dariauna Lewis (Omaha, Neb.) finished with eight points, 10 boards – five off the offensive glass – and a pair of blocks.
 
Graduate guard Nigeria Jones (Lincoln, Neb.) added six points, four caroms and two assists and graduate forward Teliyah Jeter (Taylors, S.C.) rounded out the top performers with six boards and a pair of blocks.
 
A&M would lead 6-3 just under five minutes in before the Bruins offense began to click as they registered a 10-0 run to close the opening frame with a 13-6 advantage. That would stretch to 13 straight points and a 20-6 lead by the 6:55 mark of the second quarter before the Bulldogs quelled that run. That would come in the form of three straight buckets that helped fuel a 14-8 stretch that narrowed the gap to 28-20 by the break.
 
Following an opening basket by Jones that cut it to six it would be all Belmont. Over the next 7:03 they would methodically extend their lead to 42-22 behind a 14-0 surge before taking a 45-27 margin into the fourth. That trend would continue over the final 10 minutes as the Bruins pushed their advantage to 23 points at 50-27 before closing out the 63-44 victory.
 
Tuti Jones and Destinee Wells led the way for Belmont with 16 points apiece while Conley Chinn hauled in 10 boards to go with six points. Kilyn McGuff came away with 12 points and Tessa Miller added eight rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Bulldogs return to action when they host Georgia State at Elmore Gymnasium on Monday, November 22. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.