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Campbell University

Belmont Scores Final Seven Points to Hang on for 61-54 Victory over Campbell

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-Belmont got everything it wanted and more from Campbell Saturday afternoon, but the Bruins scored the final seven points of the game to escape Carter Gym with a 61-54 victory in Atlantic Sun play.

Campbell (5-14, 3-6 A-Sun) went on a 10-3 run from the 8:21 mark to the 3:11 mark in the second half erasing a 51-44 Belmont lead and tying the game at 54-54 on an Octavia Blackwell jumper.

Kristin Bunch nailed a jumper on the Bruins (15-4, 9-0) next possession down the floor and then Brooke Sunday extended the lead to 58-54 with a layup with 2:16 to play. Belmont hit another jumper with 47 seconds left and a free throw by Bunch closed out the scoring. The Lady Camels missed their final four shot attempts after tying the game.

Freshman Taylor Oliver scored a game-high 15 points for the Lady Camels and also pulled down four rebounds and dished out four assists. Octavia Blackwell rebounded from a 0-for-9 shooting performance on Thursday against Lipscomb shooting lights out Saturday connecting on 6-of-9 from the floor finishing with 13 points, five assists and four rebounds. Marlena Murphy added 10 points and eight boards to close out Campbell's double-figure scoring.

The Atlantic Sun's leading scorer Alysha Clark led Belmont with 14 points, but the nation's fourth-leading rebounder was held to just six boards, with two coming in the final 25 seconds of the game. Brittany Myers hit 5-of-10 for 12 points and nine rebounds, while Amber Rockwell added 10 points shooting 2-of-9 from three-point range.

Campbell outrebounded the Bruins 44-41 on the game, but Belmont was able to pull down 19 offensive rebounds converting them into 19 second-chance points compared to six second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds for the Lady Camels.

Belmont's lead tittered between three and seven for the majority of the second half until the Lady Camels made their run at the 8:43 mark.

The first half featured eight lead changes and two ties as the teams traded punches like prize fighters throughout the opening 20 minutes.

The Lady Camels didn't score for the first three minutes of the game, but then went on a 12-2 run over the next three minutes grabbing a 12-5 advantage. Belmont rallied with an 11-3 run grabbing a 16-15 lead with 7:30 to play in the half. Campbell went a span of seven minutes with only one field goal during Belmont's run.

After Campbell took a 21-20 lead with 5:29 to play, Belmont ended the half on a 9-3 run taking a 29-24 lead into the break.
Oliver opened the second half with a three pointer and Blackwell nailed a jumper pulling the Camels within two during the opening minute of play. Clark put in a layup and Bunch drained a three on back-to-back possessions extending the lead back to seven.

Both teams struggled from the floor as Campbell shot 35.1 percent (20-57) and Belmont connected on just 34.9 percent (22-63). The Bruins forced 17 Campbell turnovers, while only handing the ball over nine times themselves.

Campbell's Adrienne Rieley and Belmont's Jessica Bobbitt both had nine rebounds to lead their respective teams and both finished with just two points.

Campbell continues its four-game Atlantic Sun homestand on Thursday night against North Florida at 7:00. The Ospreys (4-14, 3-5) defeated Campbell 59-53 in Jacksonville, Fla. back on January 4.

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Players Mentioned

Octavia Blackwell

#14 Octavia Blackwell

G
5' 6"
Junior
Marlena Murphy

#50 Marlena Murphy

C
6' 0"
Junior
Taylor Oliver

#11 Taylor Oliver

G
5' 6"
Freshman
Adrienne Rieley

#41 Adrienne Rieley

F/C
6' 1"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Octavia Blackwell

#14 Octavia Blackwell

5' 6"
Junior
G
Marlena Murphy

#50 Marlena Murphy

6' 0"
Junior
C
Taylor Oliver

#11 Taylor Oliver

5' 6"
Freshman
G
Adrienne Rieley

#41 Adrienne Rieley

6' 1"
Junior
F/C