BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's basketball team overcame a 15-point second-half deficit and outscored Dakota State University, 24-10, in the fourth quarter to rally for a 67-65 victory in North Star Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The Bruins, who snapped a four-game losing skid, moved to 10-10 on the season and 4-4 in the NSAA with the win. DSU fell to 4-15 overall and 2-6 in league play.
Caletria Curtis drilled two free throws with one second remaining to give the Bruins the dramatic 67-65 comeback victory.
Angeliece Tucker led the Bruins with a career-high 15 points while adding five rebounds. Beth Walker, who missed last weekend's two contests, added 10 points and four boards. Ryleigh McCartney finished with 10 points, three rebounds, and an assist.
BreeAna Olson (28), Kennedy Wagner (17) and Jamie Tebben (10) combined for 55 of the Trojans' 65 points as only five DSU players scored in the game.
The Bruin bench outscored the DSU bench, 35-5 and BU held a commanding 28-12 advantage in points in the paint.
Kennedy and Olson combined for 29 of the Trojans' 36 first-half points as DSU built a 36-30 halftime advantage. Both players were 3-of-4 from behind the arc in the opening half. Only four DSU players scored in the first half, compared to nine for the Bruins.
Walker and Alexandra Bader led BU in the opening half with seven points each as the Trojans outshot BU, 35.1 percent to 29.4 percent.
Olson and Trebben combined for all nine points in a 9-2 DSU run to open the third quarter as the Trojans built a 13-point advantage at 45-32. DSU led by as many as 15 points in the third frame before a 3-pointer by Christen Voyles brought BU to within 12 at 55-43 heading into the final quarter.
A triple by Angeliece Tucker sliced the lead to single digits at 57-48 with 8:14 remaining in the game. A 10-2 spurt capped by a 3-pointer by Walker brought the Bruins to within four points at 59-55 at the 5:48 mark.
An 8-0 BU run highlighted by five points from Tucker and a 3-pointer by McCartney gave the Bruins their first lead since early in the first quarter at 65-62 with 2:55 remaining in the contest.
Olson countered with a 3-pointer to knot the contest at 65-all with just over a minute left.
After Olson missed a jumper with 27 seconds left, Tucker grabbed the rebound and the Bruins called a timeout to set up a final shot. Curtis was fouled as she was driving to the basket and she made both free throws with one second remaining to give BU the 67-65 victory.
The Bruins will host Viterbo University of Friday, Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
