BELLEVUE, Neb. -- A big third-quarter scoring surge helped the Bellevue University women's basketball team stretch an eight-point halftime lead as the Bruins downed Waldorf University, 76-47, Tuesday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins completed the series sweep with WU, improving to 11-5 on the season and 7-2 in the NSAA. Waldorf fell to 2-14 overall and 1-8 in league play.
Elexis Martinez led the Bruins with 15 points and six rebounds. Taeha Pankey added 13 points and five assists. Jamie Winkler produced 13 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists. Faith Ross was the fourth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points while adding three rebounds and two steals.
Taylor Moen paced Waldorf, scoring 12 points after going 5-of-7 from the field. Tina Lair-VanMeter added 10 points, four rebounds, and four steals for the Warriors.
The Bruins forced seven first-quarter turnovers and used an 11-point run to grab a 19-9 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play. Martinez led BU in the first quarter with five points and three rebounds.
Bellevue was held scoreless for the final 4:18 of the half as Waldorf cut into a 17-point deficit, scoring the final nine points of the second quarter as BU held a 34-26 lead at the intermission.
Ross and Martinez led BU in the opening half with nine points apiece. Winkler chipped in with eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Lair-VanMeter paced the Warriors in the first half with eight points, going 4-of-5 from the field.
Highlighted by seven points from Pankey, the Bruins opened the third quarter on an 18-4 run to expand the lead to 22 points at 52-30 with 4:05 left in the third. BU opened up a 26-point advantage following a 3-pointer from Lexi Allen, before taking a 61-35 cushion heading into the final frame. BU outscored the Warriors, 27-9, in the third.
A layup by Martinez gave BU its largest lead of the contest at 33 points (68-35) and Waldorf never got closer than 26 the remainder of the contest as the Bruins cruised to the 76-47 victory.
The Bruins will host Mayville State University on Friday, Feb. 5 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
