DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Grand View University women's basketball team used a late first-quarter run to pull away from Bellevue University and never surrendered the lead en route to a 78-57 non-conference victory over the Bruins Wednesday night at Sisam Arena.
With the loss, Bellevue fell to 3-5 on the season. Grand View improved to 5-1 overall.
Elexis Martinez led the way for BU with 17 points and eight rebounds. Faith Ross added 11 points and five boards. Asha Scott came off the bench to register 10 points, two rebounds, and a pair of assists.
The Vikings were led by Brianda Bane's 16 points and three rebounds. Isabel Gscheidle added 13 points and four boards. Shannon Pisney finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
After the Bruins built an early 8-4 advantage, the Vikings closed the quarter on a 16-2 run to take a 20-10 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play.
Bellevue got as close as four points in the second quarter following a layup by Kaziah Terrell to make it 27-23 with three minutes remaining before intermission.
The Vikings scored the final 10 points of the quarter to take a 37-23 lead at halftime.
Back-to-back buckets by Ross to start the second half cut the deficit to single digits at 37-28 forcing an early GVU timeout in the first 45 seconds of the third quarter. After the Vikings responded with a 7-2 run to push the lead to 14, the Bruins scored seven straight, capped by a short jumper by Terrell to pull BU to within seven points at 44-37 at the 4:30 mark of the third.
The Vikings countered with a 12-4 surge before a 3-pointer by Lexi Allen made it a 12-point contest at 56-44 heading into the final frame.
Martinez scored BU's first three points of the fourth, drawing the Bruins to within 10 at 57-47 at the 8:36 mark.
Neither team scored for the next two-and-a-half minutes until Natalie Rigatuso nailed a pair of free throws to make it a 12-point contest with six minutes left in the game.
The two teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until 3-pointers by Kelly Leerar and Rigatuso extended the Viking advantage to 19 points (70-51) with 2:31 remaining in the game.
BU never got closer than 17 points the remainder of the contest as GVU secured the 78-57 victory.
The Bruins will travel to Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday, Nov. 20 for a 4:30 p.m. matchup at No. 12-ranked Morningside University.
