BELLEVUE, Neb. -- After racing out to a 20-3 lead in just over six minutes, the Bellevue University women's basketball team picked up their third-straight victory to remain unbeaten in league play, downing Valley City State University 68-51 on Saturday.
Bellevue improves to 9-7 overall and remains unbeaten at 3-0 in conference play while Valley City slips to 8-9 overall and 1-2 in NSAA play.
Ashtyn Arnold knocked down a pair of free throws to cap off a 14-0 Bruin run, that saw VCSU turn the ball over three times in three minutes, to open the game. After a banked three-pointer by JayCee Richter put the Vikings on the board, BU scored six more to go up 20-3 just 6:11 into the contest.
The Vikings answered by out-scoring Bellevue 8-2 to close the quarter eventually pulling to within six, 31-25, at halftime.
Asha Scott led the Bruins with eight points at the break and Taylor Dement added six in the opening 20 minutes with the two guards each recording three steals.
A back-and-forth third quarter saw BU out-score Valley City 14-11 to take a 45-36 lead into the fourth.
In the final quarter, Bellevue pushed their lead to 11 with 7:52 remaining as Miranda Hennings drained a three-pointer from the top of the key. Meredith Dumas sank a couple free throws for VCSU to make it 57-44 but the Bruins answered with an 8-0 run effectively putting the game out of reach with 3:30 to play.
Scott finished with 16 on 7-of-11 shooting to go with four rebounds and four steals to lead the Bruins. Faith Ross added 10 points and seven boards. Dement scored eight and swiped four steals and Hennings scored eight while hitting multiple threes for the 12th time this season.
Ashlyn Diemert and Taryn Dieterle scored 11 apiece to lead Valley City, the latter grabbing 12 boards to notch a double-double.
Bellevue returns to action next weekend with their first conference road games of the year. The Bruins will be in Aberdeen, S.D. on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before facing off with Mayville State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
