WATERTOWN, S.D. -- Dakota State pulled away in the second and third quarters to defeat the Bellevue University women's basketball team, 83-69, in the 2022 North Star Athletic Association Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.

Bellevue ends the year with a 15-17 overall record. Dakota State improves to 26-7 and secures the NSAA"s bid to the NAIA National Tournament for the second-straight season.

Elexis Martinez scored 16 points to go with six rebounds and Asha Scott scored 11 while pulling down seven boards. Laura Jurek was the third Bruin in double figures, scoring 10 points along with seven rebounds and five assists.

Jessi Giles paced four Trojans in double figures with 16 points. Lexi Robson added 13 with five assists, Elsie Aslesen scored 11, and Angela Slattery contributed 10 off the bench.

The Trojans led by three, 17-15, after a back and forth first quarter in which neither team led by more than three points,

Robson hit a triple to open the second quarter and Martinez answered at the other end with a bucket. The teams traded 5-0 runs around a Bruin timeout before Dakota State rattled off eight-straight including a pair of threes from Slattery and Morgan Huber to lead by 11, 33-22.

DSU led 37-28 at the half, paced by Giles' 10 points while Robson tossed in six. Martinez led all scorers with 12 at the intermission while Faith Ross scored eight along with grabbing four rebounds.

After a mini 4-0 run by the Bruins cut the Trojan lead to 48-40, Dakota out-scored BU 17-10 to close the half and take a 65-50 lead into the fourth quarter.

Aslesen converted an and-one to open the fourth quarter before BU tried to mount a comeback bid. The Bruins ripped off a 10-3 run to pull within 11 on a layup by Jurek but were not able to pull any closer as DSU held on for the 14-point victory.