Belmont women's basketball advances to WBIT quarterfinals with huge comeback over Northern Arizona

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Belmont women's basketball erased a 21-point deficit and beat Northern Arizona 81-80 on a Jailyn Banks layup at the buzzer Sunday in the second round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament at Curb Event Center.

Northern Arizona led 45-24 in the final minute of the second quarter and was ahead 74-58 with 6:05 left to play when Belmont mounted its furious comeback.

Bell made a second-chance layup to get the rally started and sparked a 23-4 run, which ended with the Bruins ahead 79-78 with 12 seconds left. NAU retook the lead 80-79 on a bucket in the paint by Saniyah Neverson with four seconds to go and Banks hit the game-winner off an assist from Emily La Chapell three seconds later.

It was Belmont's eighth win in the past nine games. The Bruins opened the WBIT with a 64-51 win over Middle Tennessee State.

"We've got unbelievable toughness and resiliency and leadership and competitiveness," Belmont coach Bart Brooks said. "I wasn't surprised that we had a shot at the end."

The win sends Belmont (24-12) to the quarterfinals Thursday (6 p.m. CT) to play at James Madison (30-5), which beat Marquette 80-76 in OT.

Banks, a sophomore from Middle Tennessee Christian School, finished with 17 points and Vanderbilt transfer Kendal Cheesman added 14 points and eight rebounds.

NAU (27-8) was led by Leia Beattie with 18 points.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.