DICKINSON, N.D. -- Despite trailing after one quarter of play the Bellevue University women's basketball team notched their program-record fifth-straight victory, topping host Dickinson State University by a score of 49-40 on Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium in North Star Athletic Association action.
The win sees BU trump their four-game win streak to open last season as the Bruins improved to 14-10 overall and 7-3 in NSAA play. With their latest setback Dickinson State has now dropped 10-straight and rest at 4-16 overall and 0-10 in the North Star.
Both teams started slow on the offensive end as the teams combined for just nine points through the first 4:24 before things picked up.
Bellevue trailed 17-13 after one period of play but responded by limiting Dickinson State to just six second quarter points as the visitors took a 28-23 lead into the halftime break.
Caletria Curtis led the Bruins with eight points and four rebounds at the break. Beth Walker and Elexis Martinez each scored four in the half and Alexandra Bader matched Curtis' four rebounds.
Neither team shot particularly well in the first half with DiSU edging BU 34.6-32.3 percent through 20 minutes. Each team hit a pair of treys in the first half while BU was 6-of-10 at the line the Blue Hawks' 3-of-6 effort.
The third quarter began in a similar manner to the first with neither team able to produce much on the offensive end. BU stretched their lead to eight points when Shayla Dean came up with a steal and scored at the other end. Martinez scored with seven seconds on the clock to push the Bruin lead to 10 points, 40-30, entering the fourth quarter.
Bellevue put the game away by the 7:03 mark of the fourth when a basket from Walker put the Bruins up 47-30.
Curtis finished with a game-high 15 points en route to a double-double, her team-leading fifth of the year. Walker joined Curtis in double-figures as she chipped in 11 to go along with three rebounds, three blocked shots, and a pair of steals. Ryleigh McCartney and Martinez each scored six in the win.
The Bruins out-rebounded Dickinson State 51-37 on the evening, paced by Curtis' game- and season-high 14 boards.
The 49 points scored by the Bruins are their fewest in a victory all-time. Their previous low came earlier this season in a 60-51 win at Waldorf back on Dec. 17.
Bellevue limited Dickinson State to just a 27.8 percent (15-54) effort from the floor and 20.0 (4-20) percent from beyond the arc in the win. The Bruins also forced the Blue Hawks into 15 turnovers – while committing 13 of their own – which they converted into a scoring advantage.
The biggest scoring discrepancies came via points in the paint as BU racked up a 30-14 advantage. The Bruins also out-scored Dickinson State 13-8 in second chance points.
Riley Helmick paced the Blue Hawks with nine points while Madison Hansen added eight and matched Natalee Hafer with a team-high seven rebounds.
Bellevue returns to play tomorrow with a 3 p.m. NSAA game at #17 Valley City State University.
