Bluehawks hand Bruins 71-69 road loss

Bluehawks hand Bruins 71-69 road loss

Box Score
NSAA Standings

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Despite a desperate comeback effort, Dickinson State University pulled out a 71-69 victory over Bellevue University in North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action Friday night at Scott Gymnasium. 

With the loss, the Bruins fell to 10-8 on the season and 1-1 in the NSAA. DSU improved to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in league play. 

Taeha Pankey led the Bruins with 17 points and a pair of assists. Elexis Martinez added 14 points and five rebounds. Brittany Hill chipped in with 12 points and four boards. 

Ashlie Watts (19) and Ashlie Larson (18) combined for 37 points to pace the Bluehawk attack.  

The Bruins committed 10 first-half turnovers and trailed by as many as 12 points before holding the Bluehawks scoreless for the final 3:38 of the first half, pulling to within seven points at 36-29 at the intermission. 

Pankey and Martinez led the Bruins with six points each in the first half as BU shot 44 percent from the field and hit 2-of-8 from behind the arc. 

DSU nailed eight 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of play and was led by Watts who scored 11 first-half points.

The Bluehawks scored the first five points of the third quarter to expand the lead to 12 points at 41-29.   

Sparked by six points from Pankey, Bellevue closed the third quarter on a 15-5 run to pull to within a single point at 50-49. 

A layup by Martinez gave BU its first lead of the game since early in the first quarter at 60-58 with 4:41 remaining in the contest. 

The two teams traded baskets over the next four minutes until a short jumper by Danielle Wallace gave the Bluehawks a 67-65 lead with 17 seconds left in regulation. The Bruins turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Larson's two free throws extended DSU's lead to 69-65 with 12 ticks remaining. 

After a layup by Martinez pulled BU to within two points, Larson nailed two more insurance free throws as the Bluehawks held on for the 71-69 victory.  

The Bruins will head to Valley City, N.D. tomorrow (Jan. 11) for a 3 p.m. NSAA contest at Valley City State University.