VALLEY CITY, N.D. -- A 22-5 Viking run to open the second half saw the host side erase a 14-point deficit as the Bellevue University women's basketball team fell to Valley City State University 76-74 on Saturday afternoon.

BU falls to 7-11 overall and 0-3 in NSAA play. Valley City improves to 5-8 with a 2-1 conference mark.

Asha Scott and Elexis Martinez led five Bruins in double figures with 13 points apiece. Martinez grabbed a team-best nine rebounds. Miranda Hennings and Faith Ross scored 12 apiece and Laura Jurek added 10.

Bellevue came out hot from deep as Miranda Hennings hit three-straight three-pointers and Faith Ross added another for a quick 12-0 BU lead. VCSU picked up a little momentum, scoring nine of the final 14 points as BU led 25-14 after one quarter.

Allie Critchley pulled VCSU within two, 25-23, but that was as close as the Vikings would get in the first half. The Bruins responded by closing the half on a 17-5 run to take a 42-28 lead into the break.

Valley City wasted no time cutting into that deficit with a 22-5 run to open the third quarter. By the end of the third quarter, the Vikings led 57-54, out-scoring BU 29-12 in the period.

The Viking lead hovered between one and four until Emma Nielson drained a corner three to extend the advantage to 72-65 with 3:46 to play. BU countered, hitting a free throw on each of the next three possessions before Faith Ross hit a long-range trey to cut the deficit to 72-71 with 1:43 to play.

After trading buckets, VCSU had a chance to extend the lead in the final minute but a pair of missed shots and a turnover with one second on the shot clock gave BU the ball back with 20.3 seconds in the game.

Ross drove the lane and drew a foul with 9.8 to play. She hit the second of her two tries to tie the game.

Adriana Torres drove the baseline and her pass to Breanna Price was too strong but Taryn Dieterle picked up the loose ball and hit a short jumper with 2.4 seconds to play.

After a Bruin timeout, a three-point attempt at the top of the key from Martinez rimmed out and time expired.

The Bruins return home next weekend to host Presentation College (Friday, Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m.) and Mayville State University (Saturday, Jan. 15, 3 p.m.).