Belmont Women’s Basketball Captures First MVC Regular Season Championship

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Belmont Women’s Basketball Team. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

The Belmont women’s basketball team continues to be one of the most dominant programs in the country, winning their sixth regular season conference championship in seven seasons, their first in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

The Bruins clinched the title by defeating Valparaiso University in thrilling fashion, 70-67, Saturday afternoon (March 4) after junior guard Destinee Wells dropped 26 points in the second half for a game-best 31 total to overcome a 13-point deficit. Outscoring the host Beacons 40-33 in the second half, Belmont extended one of the nation’s longest winning streaks to 14.

With the victory, the Bruins finished their inaugural Missouri Valley Conference slate at 17-3 and tied with Illinois State (23-7, 17-3 MVC) atop the 12-team league. Sharing the regular season crown with the Redbirds, Belmont will be the No. 2 seed in next weekend’s MVC Tournament, which will be held in Moline, Illinois, Thursday-Sunday, March 9-12.

The regular season championship is the Bruins’ ninth regular season conference title – five in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) (2021-2022, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017) and three in the ASUN Conference (2006-2007, 2005-2006, 2003-2004). Belmont has won a combined 16 conference championships, including regular season and tournament titles, in its NCAA era.

Steven Boero
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