MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Junior Caletria Curtis collected 21 points and seven rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Bellevue University women's basketball team dropped a 69-55 decision at NCAA Division II Northwest Missouri State University's Bearcat Arena Wednesday night.
The game was considered an exhibition for the Bruins. NWMSU improved to 3-0 on the season with the win.
Beth Walker and Christen Voyles both poured in nine points and combined for five steals in the loss.
Tanya Meyer led the Bearcats with 23 points and seven rebounds. Arbrie Benson added 16 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Bearcats shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and Jasmin Howe hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give NWMSU a 35-22 halftime advantage. Curtis paced BU in the opening half with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting.
NWMSU drained 41.7 percent of their 3-point attempts in the first two quarters, compared to just 9.1 percent for the Bruins. Benson led the Bearcats with 11 points and three rebounds in the first half.
NWMSU scored the first seven points of the third quarter to open up a 20-point advantage at 42-22. After BU got as close as 17 points, the Bearcats ended the stanza on an 11-7 run to take a 55-34 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Bellevue scored the first eight points on the final quarter capped by a 3-point play by Curtis to cut the deficit to 13 points at 55-42 with 7:48 left in the contest.
After a Meyer field goal pushed the NWMSU lead back to 20 at the 4:43 mark, BU scored six-straight to slice the margin to 14 at 67-53 with 3:31 remaining. That was as close as the Bruins could get as the Bearcats secured the 69-55 victory.
NWMSU out-shot the Bruins 50 percent to 36.8 percent and hit nine 3-pointers, compared to four for BU. The Bearcats also maintained a 38-24 edge in total rebounds.
The Bruins (4-4) will host the Bruin Thanksgiving Classic on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26 at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
