DICKINSON, N.D. -- Senior Elexis Martinez and sophomore Delaney VanBlaricon combined for 31 points to lead the Bellevue University women's basketball team to a convincing 67-46 victory at Dickinson State in North Star Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon at Scott Gymnasium.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 15-5 overall and 11-2 in the NSAA, securing second place in the conference regular-season standings. Dickinson State University fell to 8-11 on the season and 6-7 in league play.
Martinez led BU with 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists. VanBlaricon finished with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc. Faith Ross was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points along with six boards.
Courtney Olson paced DSU with 13 points and a pair of assists. Dakota Dosch recorded 11 points and six rebounds.
After getting off to a slow start, trailing 12-11 after the opening quarter, the Bruins used a 5-1 run and closed the second quarter with seven-straight points to take a 31-21 lead at the intermission.
Bellevue scored the first six points of the second half capped by back-to-back buckets from Martinez to extend the cushion to 16 points at 37-21. The two teams traded baskets the remainder of the third until a 3-pointer by DSU's Lindsey Peterson brought the Blue Hawks to within 14 points (49-35) heading into the final stanza.
Dosch's 3-pointer brought the Blue Hawks to within 11 points early in the fourth quarter but that was as close as DSU would get as the Bruins cruised to the 21-point victory.
With the win, the Bruins completed the series sweep against the Blue Hawks as BU defeated Dickinson State, 69-58, on Jan. 8 in Bellevue. The Bruins assured themselves of a No. 2 seed in the NSAA Post-Season Tournament, which will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The higher seeded team will host each round with the semifinals scheduled for Feb. 25 and the championship game set for Saturday, Feb. 27.
Dakota State University has secured the top seed in the NSAA Tournament.
The Bruins will close out the regular season when they host league-leader Dakota State at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18 in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The Trojans are currently ranked No. 17 in the nation with a 21-3 overall record and a perfect 13-0 mark in conference play.
