MADISON, S.D. -- Junior Caletria Curtis recorded her team-leading seventh double-double of the season to lead the Bellevue University women's basketball team to a 66-52 victory at Dakota State University Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Memorial Fieldhouse.
Currently tied for fourth-place in the conference standings, the Bruins kept their hopes alive for hosting a first-round NSAA Tournament game. The top four teams in the regular-season standings will host opening round games next Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Bellevue (15-14, 8-7 NSAA) will close the regular season tomorrow (Feb. 18) when they travel to Forest City, Iowa for a 3 p.m. contest at Waldorf University.
Dakota State fell to 8-20 on the season and 5-10 in the NSAA. The Trojans host Mayville State at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Curtis led three Bruins in double figures, finishing with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Angeliece Tucker added 14 points and five boards. Taylor Cormier contributed with 11 points and five rebounds.
Britley Plautz was the lone Trojan in double figures, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.
The largest advantage for either team in the first quarter was three points as BU took a slim 16-14 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The Bruins opened the second quarter on a 9-3 run to grab a 25-17 advantage midway through the period. Bellevue maintained the eight-point margin the remainder of the quarter, taking a 31-23 lead into the intermission.
The Trojans got as close as five points in the third quarter when two baskets by Lindsey Vogl made the score 36-31 with 4:38 left in the quarter. The two teams traded a pair of free throws in the final six seconds as BU took a 44-38 lead entering the final quarter.
Capped by a Curtis jumper in the lane, the Bruins used a 7-0 run to open up a 10-point lead at 57-47 with 4:22 left in the contest. The Trojans never got closer than seven points the remainder of the contest as the Bruins secured the 66-52 victory.
The Bruins conclude the regular season tomorrow (Feb. 18) when they travel to Forest City, Iowa for a 3 p.m. NSAA contest at Waldorf University.
