KIRKSVILLE, Mo. - The Truman Women's Basketball team set a new program record for shooting in a game as the Bulldogs made nearly 70% of their shots and routed William Jewell 99-53 on Thursday night in Pershing Arena. Hannah Belanger became the first Bulldog player to hit all nine of her field goal attempts for a game-high 23 points.
Truman was 34-of-50 for the game to best the record book for single-game shooting at 68%. The previous mark was 65% against Mount Mercy (Iowa) set in 2012. Eight Bulldogs knocked down 20 three-pointers for the most by a Truman team in a conference/Division II game, two shy of the school record of 22 also against Mount Mercy in 2012.Â
Two other Bulldogs connected on all eight of there shots in a game, Sloane Totta in 2019 against Indianapolis and Sarah Sommer against Westminster (Mo.) in 2002.Â
The Bulldogs hit four of their first five threes and opened the game up with a 19-3 run in the first quarter to lead 27-14. The lead swelled to over 20 on Belanger's third triple of the half. The Bulldogs finished the first 20 minutes by shooting 73% from the floor and had already eclipsed their season-average with nine three-pointers.
It was more of the same in the second half as all 13 rosters players saw action, including first collegiate points from Ella Armstrong and Avery Larson.
Claire Rake was 5-of-7 from outside and finished with 15 points in 18 minutes of work. Ellie Weltha added 14 and Alex Fanning a dozen.
Gracie Stugart dished out 12 of the team's 27 assists for a new personal best and the most by a Bulldog since Becka McHenry in 2011. The 12 dimes ties Jeanette Cleven's total from a 1985 game against Lincoln University. The 27 team assists matched a 2000 game against the defunct St. Joseph's College (Ind.) and a 2005 game against Harris-Stowe (Mo.) for sixth most in a game.
The Bulldogs picked up their largest win in the series with William Jewell and won their seventh straight over the Cardinals in the process. Truman returns to action on Saturday hosting Rockhurst (Mo.) at 1 p.m.Â
