MAYVILLE, N.D. -- A slow start offensively doomed the Bellevue University women's basketball team as the Bruins suffered a 66-50 setback against No. 14 Mayville State University on Friday evening in North Star Athletic Association action at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.
Records:
(RV) Bellevue: 15-10 (6-3 NSAA)
#14 Mayville State: 20-2 (9-0 NSAA)
Recap:
Mayville scored the first four points of the game to take an early double-digit lead, 17-7, on a three-pointer by Jordan Zrust late in the first quarter.
BU held the Comets scoreless for the first three and a half minutes of the second quarter as they chipped away at the lead, scoring six-straight points spanning the end of the first and beginning of the second periods to cut the deficit to 17-13.
A Nicole Bunting triple kick-started a 13-3 Mayville run before a jumper from Jamie Winkler just before halftime. The Comets entered the break with a 30-18 advantage.
Bellevue struggled shooting in the first half, hitting on just 18.8 percent of their field goal attempts and 6-of-14 free throws.
Mayville shot 34.5 percent in the half and could have led by more than 12 were it not for 10 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes.
The Comets wasted no time extending their lead to start the second half as the host side used a quick 9-2 run to push the advantage to a game-high 19 points, 39-20.
Bellevue answered back with a 9-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer by Winkler to cut the deficit to 10 points and prompt Mayville to use a timeout.
Out of the timeout, _ hit a three to start a run of eight-straight Comet points as Mayville took a 49-32 lead into the final period.
The fourth quarter was played generally even with Mayville never really letting BU get close.
Khalilah Holloway and Elexis Martinez scored 12 points apiece and added seven and six boards, respectively. Jamie Winkler tossed in 11 points and Faith Ross scored nine for the Bruins.
Kylee Heurung recorded a double-double for Mayville, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She tied for team-high scoring honors with Jordan Zrust while Cyan Hale (12) and Nicole Bunting (10) each found themselves in double figures for the Comets.
Up Next:
Bellevue plays their final regular-season road game tomorrow at Presentation College with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. from the Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.