Feb. 11, 2002

NASHVILLE, TN - In a game featuring the top two teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference, Florida Atlantic University hoped to come out of it with a share of first place. Instead, Belmont University scored 67 second half points on their way to a 97-86 victory Monday night in Nashville, TN. Tamica Pierce led FAU with 27 points while Chasity Campbell led Belmont with a game-high 28 points.

FAU (11-11, 9-5 A-Sun) started the game strongly with a 33-20 lead with 3:13 left in the first half. However, the Bruins responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 33-30 at the half. The second half started much the same way the first half ended as Belmont (17-4, 11-3 A-Sun) outscored FAU 34-16 over the first 9:03 to lead 64-49 with 10:57 to play. A 6-0 run by the Lady Owls sliced the deficit to nine points with 9:34 left, but the Bruins responded and maintained a double-digit lead until a pair of free throws by LaKeita Lee with 2:27 left pulled FAU to within 84-76.

A free throw by Kristy Halvorsen that followed by a three-pointer by Pierce drew FAU to within 85-80 with 1:52 remaining. That was as close as the Lady Owls would get as Belmont scored four straight points to put the game away.

Both teams combined for 120 points in a wild second half that featured 38 fouls and 64 free throw attempts. The Bruins would outscore the Lady Owls 67-53 after the half. FAU finished 35-of-45 from the line with Pierce going a perfect 10-of-10. Belmont went 25-of-34 from the stripe.

Pierce was one of five Lady Owls in double figures as Lee finished with 13 points. Chantale Jones and Crystal Boyland each had 12 while Angie Rodgers scored 10. Halvorsen was held to just two points but grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Belmont shot 60 percent in the second half and 47 percent for the game. FAU was held to just 36 percent.

The Bruins' Candice Mitchell added 24 points, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Natalie Brown chipped in 17 points while Hollie Davis had 11. The win gives the Bruins a two-game lead over the Lady Owls who remain tied for second place in the A-Sun.

Florida Atlantic next plays at Mercer Thursday at 5:15pm.