BELLEVUE, Neb. -- In a game that featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes and neither team leading by more than five points, the Bellevue University women's basketball team survived with a 67-63 victory over Haskell Indian Nations University Saturday night in the final women's contest of the Fairfield Inn Bruin Classic being played at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
The win evened the Bruins' record on the season at 7-7. Haskell dropped to 3-12 overall with the loss.
Ashtyn Arnold recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds, along with three assists. Gabby Moore added 14 points, six boards, and four assists. Zakiyyah Muhammad also recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Marilyn Goodman paced the Indians with 22 points, six rebounds, and four steals as HINU produced 14 steals on the night. Mahpiya Irving added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Malia Jacobs finished with 11 points and two boards.
After BU opened the contest with a basket in the paint by Brandi Dunn, Goodman scored seven straight for the Indians to give HINU a five-point edge. The Indians maintained a five-point advantage until a putback by Kaylee Denker sliced the lead to 14-11 after the opening quarter of play.
The Bruins scored the first four points of the second frame to gain a 15-14 advantage, and a 5-0 BU run gave the Bruins a 20-16 lead with 7:14 left before the intermission. Haskell answered with a 5-1 run to tie the contest at 21-all following a 3-pointer by Goodman.
After trading baskets, a free throw by Denker gave the Bruins a 26-25 lead at the halftime break.
Muhammad led BU in the first half with six points and five rebounds.
Goodman paced the Indians with 14 first-half points, along with four boards.
The third quarter featured four ties and three lead changes, and neither team led by more than three points as BU took a 47-45 lead heading into the final stanza.
Four-straight HINU points capped by a steal and a layup from Wakiyan Irving gave the Indians a 57-54 lead with 5:20 remaining in the contest. The Bruins battled back, and a key 3-pointer by Arnold gave BU the lead at 59-58 at the three-minute mark.
After a pair of free throws by Goodman tied the game at 63-all, Muhammad drained four free throws in the final minute to seal the 67-63 victory.
The Bruins will travel to Hastings, Neb., next Tuesday, Jan. 2, where they will take on Hastings College beginning at 2 p.m. in the Lynn Farrell Arena.
