BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Morgan Cuffe recorded a double-double and Jamie Winkler led six Bruins in double figures with 25 points as the (RV) Bellevue University women's basketball team continued their stretch of torrid offensive play with a 118-81 victory over College of St. Mary on Monday evening at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in BU's home-opener.
Records:
(RV) Bellevue: 3-0
College of St. Mary: 0-3
Recap: (RV) Bellevue 118, CSM 81
Bellevue remained hot from the floor. The Bruins shot 54.1 percent (40-74) for the game, including 42.9 percent (15-35) from three, and 85.2 percent (23-27) at the free throw line.
The game was tight early before an 11-4 run that started midway through the first quarter put Bellevue up 20-9 on a three from Faith Ross with 1:59 to go.
Trista Merrival trimmed the Bruin lead to six points, 30-24, with a trey at the 6:52 mark of the second quarter but BU out-scored the visiting Flames 24-16 to take an 11-point lead into halftime.
The Bruins put the game away with a 19-3 run in the first 3:24 of the third quarter.
Winkler's 25 points were a game-high while Cuffe's double-double (19 points, 13 rebounds) was the first by a Bruin this season.
Cuffe, Taeha Pankey (18), Shanae Collins (14) all scored netted new career-highs on the night.
Merrival led CSM with 17 points. Keona Cadore added 13 with Lynsey Curran (12) and Ashley Nelson (10) also reaching double figures for the Flames.
BU out-rebounded CSM 44-24 on the night and forced the Flames into 20 turnovers, winning that battle by committing four fewer.
Up Next:
Bellevue hosts the four-team BU/NCC Classic beginning on Thursday, Nov. 1. The Bruins face Midland University at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Notes:
- The 118 points were the most by BU against an NAIA opponent.
- Bellevue continues to lead the NAIA in scoring at 112.0 points per game through the season's first three games.
