Big second-half propels BU over Warriors, 83-68

Box Score
NSAA Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's basketball team scored 48 second-half points en route to an 83-68 victory over Waldorf University Saturday afternoon in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. 

With the victory, the Bruins improved to 9-13 on the season and 2-5 in the NSAA. Waldorf fell to 6-13 overall and 0-7 in league play. 

Junior Asha Scott led the Bruins with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Faith Ross added 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. She also added four rebounds. 

Elexis Martinez produced 15 points, four boards, and a pair of assists in the victory. Delaney VanBlaricon was the fourth Bruin in double figures, finishing with 13 points along with three rebounds. 

Tina Lair-VanMeter and Kaylee Weber paced the Warriors with 15 points apiece. Lizzie Garza added 13 points and eight rebounds. Kayela Willis chipped in with 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.  

The first quarter featured one tie and 12 lead changes with the largest lead by either team at two points. The Warriors settled for an 18-16 lead after the opening 10 minutes of play with Lair-VanMeter leading the way with 10 points. 

WU led by as many as five points in the second quarter before the Bruins battled back with a 6-0 run to take a 33-32 lead following a 3-pointer by Taeha Pankey at the 1:29 mark. 

A layup by Lindsay Field gave the Warriors a 36-35 lead at the intermission. 

Scott and VanBlaricon led the Bruins in the opening half with nine points apiece. 

Lair-VanMeter paced the Warriors in the first half with 13 points, going 6-of-10 from the field. 

Sparked by a 3-pointer from Ross, the Bruins opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run to take a 44-38 lead at the seven-minute mark. 

A 3-point play by Martinez capped an 11-2 BU run to extend the lead to 12 points at 55-43 with 2:21 left in the third quarter. 

The Warriors closed the gap to eight points, ending the third frame on an 8-4 run as BU entered the final stanza with a 59-51 advantage. 

WU scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to make it a three-point contest at 59-56. The Bruins responded with an 11-0 run to push the margin to 14 points at 72-58 with 4:40 remaining in the game. 

The Warriors never got closer than 12 points the remainder of the contest as BU cruised to the 83-68 victory, closing the game on a 7-4 run.  

The Bruins will battle Waldorf again next Friday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hanson Fieldhouse in Forest City, Iowa.