Tucker's 3-point barrage lifts BU over Waldorf, 68-50
Freshman Angeliece Tucker drained a school-record nine 3-pointers and scored a program-record 27 points.
FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Freshman Angeliece Tucker drained a school-record nine 3-pointers and scored a program-record 27 points to lead the Bellevue University women's basketball team to a 68-50 victory at Waldorf University Saturday afternoon in North Star Athletic Association action.
The Bruins wrapped up the regular season with a 16-14 overall record and a 9-7 mark in the NSAA. In its inaugural season, Bellevue finished in a tie for fourth place with Mayville State in the NSAA regular-season standings.
Waldorf finished the season at 2-26 and 0-16 in the NSAA.
Tucker, who was 9-of-12 from behind the arc, added three rebounds and a steal in the victory. Caletria Curtis finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Christen Voyles was the third Bruin in double figures, collecting 10 points along with three boards.
Freshman Morgan Straight led the Warriors with 17 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Taylor Fricke added 13 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Despite shooting 22.2 percent from the field in the first quarter, the Bruins led 12-9, paced by Tucker who scored six points on a pair of 3-pointers.
Bellevue used a 13-0 run in the second quarter to open up a 27-11 advantage with 3:29 left before halftime. The Bruins outscored the Warriors 18-4 in the second quarter to take a 30-13 lead at the intermission.
Tucker added two more triples in the second period to lead BU with 12 first-half points. Curtis added seven points, six rebounds and two assists in the opening half.
Waldorf, which shot just 17.4 percent from the field in the first half and committed 14 turnovers, was led by Peyton Russell's six points.
The Warriors got as close as 15 points midway through the third quarter before Bellevue closed the period on a 6-2 run to take a 48-29 lead into the final stanza. Tucker added two more 3-pointers in the third frame for her third-straight six-point quarter.
Five-straight points by Fricke brought WU to within 13 points at 58-45 with 3:13 left in the contest. The Bruins quickly responded with Tucker's eighth 3-pointer at the 2:47 mark. Tucker's ninth triple gave BU a 66-48 advantage with just over a minute remaining in the game, as BU cruised to the 68-50 victory.
Official pairings and sites for the NSAA Tournament will be announced on Sunday afternoon. First round games will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The top four teams in the regular-season standings will host opening-round games.