FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Led by Faith Ross and Miranda Hennings, the Bellevue University women's basketball team shot 52.4 percent from behind the arc en route to an 84-57 victory over Waldorf University Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Hanson Fieldhouse.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 10-13 on the season and 3-5 in the NSAA. Waldorf fell to 6-14 overall and 0-8 in league play.
The Bruins, who hit 11-of-21 3-point attempts, were led by Faith Ross with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Ross drained 3-of-5 from long range.
Hennings hit 3-of-6 3-pointers, finishing with 11 points.
Asha Scott registered 13 points, two rebounds, and a pair of assists in the victory.
Tina Lair-VanMeter paced the Warriors with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Lizzie Garza added 10 points, six boards, and four assists.
The Bruins raced out to an early 17-2 lead in the first six minutes of the contest as seven different Bruins scored. After a 15-foot jumper by Ross gave BU a 21-6 lead, the Warriors scored five straight to cut the deficit to 10 points. Ross nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bruins a 24-11 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play.
BU hit 9-of-16 shots in the first quarter, including a 4-of-5 effort from behind the arc.
A 7-0 BU run to start the second frame extended the margin to 20 points at 31-11. Capped by a layup from Lair-VanMeter, the Warriors responded with a 13-6 run to slice the deficit to 13 points at 37-24 at the 3:11 mark.
The Bruins ended the half by scoring the final 12 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Ross to take a 49-24 lead into the intermission.
Ross led Bellevue in the opening half with 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Scott, Elexis, Martinez, and Hennings all chipped in with six points apiece.
Lair-VanMeter paced the Warriors in the first half with eight points and four rebounds.
After Hennings scored the first five points of the second half to push the margin to 30 points, the Warriors mounted a 7-2 run to make it a 25-point contest at 56-31 with 6:37 left in the third. A 3-pointer by Garza drew WU to within 21 points (57-36) midway through the third frame.
The Bruins closed the third quarter with a 12-4 run to take a commanding 69-40 lead heading into the final stanza.
A 3-pointer by Sandra Christian brought the Warriors to within 25 at 71-46 with 8:52 remaining in the contest.
The Warriors got as close as 23 points following a bucket in the paint by Lair-VanMeter before the Bruins cruised to the 84-57 victory.
The Bruins will travel to LaCrosse, Wis. on Saturday (Jan. 29) for a 3 p.m. NSAA contest at league-leading Viterbo University.
