BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Senior Caletria Curtis scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds to lead the Bellevue University women's basketball team to a convincing 87-63 victory over Presentation College Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The win, which avenged a 66-50 loss to the Saints on Dec. 9 in Aberdeen, S.D., improved the Bruins to 15-11 on the season and 8-4 in the NSAA. Presentation dropped to 8-13 overall and 5-7 in league play.
The double-double by Curtis was her team-leading sixth of the season. Her 15 rebounds tied her own school record.
Ryleigh McCartney added 15 points on five 3-pointers while adding four rebounds and three assists. Elexis Martinez finished with 14 points and four boards. Morgan Cuffe was the fourth Bruin in double figures, registering 10 points along with three assists and a steal.
Macy Toelle nailed six 3-pointers, pacing the Saints with a team-high 20 points. Allison Cox added 14 points and six rebounds. Shayla Strauss finished with 10 points and five boards.
After a 3-pointer by Strauss gave PC an early 6-5 lead, the Bruins used a 12-point run to gain a 17-6 advantage with two minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Saints closed the quarter on a 5-2 run to slice the deficit to 19-11 heading into the second frame.
Led by Curtis' six points and two boards, BU outshot the Saints 43.8 to 27.3 percent in the opening quarter and forced six PC turnovers.
Two-straight 3-pointers by Toelle tied the game at 27-27 with 5:54 left before halftime. The two teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before BU ended the half on an 8-4 run to take a 39-35 edge at the intermission.
Curtis led BU in the first half with 15 points and seven boards. Toelle paced the Saints with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Presentation nailed 3-of-4 3-pointers in the second quarter and 5-of-9 for the half. PC improved its shooting in the second quarter, finishing 9-of-14 from the field for a sizzling 64.3 percent shooting percentage.
Martinez scored seven points in the first two minutes of the third quarter as BU extended the margin to 48-42. The Saints responded with five-consecutive points to cut the deficit to one point before BU closed the quarter on a 14-3 run to take a 62-50 lead heading into the final stanza.
A bucket by Martinez gave the Bruins a 70-52 advantage at the seven-minute mark. The Saints never got closer the remainder of the contest as BU cruised to the 87-63 victory.
The Bruins return to the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center on Saturday (Feb. 3) for a 3 p.m. conference matchup with Waldorf University.
