Hot-shooting BU Women rout Randall in Season-Opener

Faith Ross scored a team-high 19 points in her collegiate debut on Friday afternoon
Faith Ross scored a team-high 19 points in her collegiate debut on Friday afternoon

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. -- On a night in which they shot over 50 percent from the floor and drained 14 threes the Bellevue University women's basketball team rolled to a 95-45 victory over Randall University at the OKWU Classic on Friday afternoon at the Mueller Sports Center.

Records:

(RV) Bellevue: 1-0
Randall: 0-3

Recap: Bellevue 95, Randall 45

Bellevue scored the first 10 points of the game and never led by less than double-digits from the midway point of the second quarter to kick off the program's third season of play with a 50-point victory.

A pair of free throws from Laura Jurek at the 4:44 mark of the first quarter capped a 10-0 BU run to open the game. Madi Chalfant finally put Randall on the board with a basket at the 4:19 point of the period.

BU led by seven, 15-8, after one quarter of play and a trifecta by Kenzie Ezekiel to open the second period saw the Saints trim the lead to just four.

The Bruins responded by going on a 14-2 run which featured eight points from Faith Ross to take a 16-point lead with 3:51 to play in the first half. By halftime Bellevue led 38-20.

Bellevue turned it on in the second half, out-scoring Randall 26-13 in the third quarter and 31-12 in the fourth to secure the third-largest margin of victory in program history.

Ross led a trio of Bruins in double figures with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and sank five her eight three-point tries. Elexis Martinez added 18 points on a 6-of-11 shooting effort and went 6-of-9 from the charity stripe. Jurek dropped in 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and went 3-of-4 from the line.

Scoring eight points apiece were Taeha Pankey and Miranda Hennings while Pankey dished out a game-high eight assists.

As a team BU shot 50.8 percent (33-65) from the floor, 42.4 percent (14-33) from three, and 68.2 percent (15-22) from the free throw line.

Bellevue out-rebounded Randall by a comfortable 51-32 margin, led by Martinez's six boards.

The Bruins defense forced the Saints into 30 turnovers and blocked four shots.

Randall struggled to a 27.9 percent (17-61) shooting night from the field and drained just 2-of-13 three-point attempts. They were led by Kenzie Ezekiel's 12 points and four rebounds. Hayli Hoffman and Jai'Lynn Anderson added nine and eight points, respectively, in the loss.

Up Next:

Bellevue is back in action tomorrow when they wrap up play at the OKWU Classic against Central Christian College of the Bible (0-1). Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Notes:

  • Bellevue is now 2-1 all-time in season-openers.
  • The 95 points were the second-most in program history (96 vs. Grace, Nov. 2 2016).
  • The 14 three-pointers were also the second-most in program history (17 vs. St. Gregory's, Oct. 28, 2017).