BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The Viterbo University women's basketball team battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit, taking the lead in the second half before Bellevue University hit six key free throws in the final two minutes to hold on for a 64-55 victory in North Star Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 10-10 on the season and 3-2 in the NSAA. Viterbo dropped to 6-9 overall and 1-3 in league play.
Kaylee Denker led the Bruins with 15 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots. Delaney VanBlaricon added 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers. Gabby Moore was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 11 points along with two assists.
Macy Stellner paced the V-Hawks with 11 points, five boards, and two assists.
The Bruins used a 7-0 run at the end of the first and the start of the second frame to establish a 14-6 advantage, capped by a long triple by Moore.
After another 3-pointer by Moore, Viterbo answered with buckets by Madison Hugdahl and Emma Wagner to slice the deficit to four points at 20-16 with four minutes left in the first half. Sparked by four-straight points from Zakiyyah Muhammad and a pair of 3-pointers by VanBlaricon, including one at the buzzer, the Bruins built a 34-21 advantage at the halftime break.
Moore led BU in the first half with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from long range. VanBlaricon added eight first-half points on 3-of-5 shooting.
Stellner paced the V-Hawks with six first-half points.
Stellner scored the first five points of the second half as VU opened the third frame on a 16-4 run to slice the deficit to one point at 38-37 with 2:44 left before the final stanza.
BU countered with four-straight points by VanBlaricon, including her third 3-pointer of the game, giving the Bruins a five-point cushion, before taking a 44-40 lead heading into the final frame.
After a 3-pointer by Wagner to open the fourth made it a one-point game, her second triple tied the contest at 46-all at the 7:14 mark. Viterbo took the lead at 48-46 on a layup by Emily McCurdy.
The Bruins countered with a 6-0 run to regain the momentum at 52-48 on a Denker layup with four minutes remaining. After jumpers by Denker and Brandi Dunn gave BU a six-point edge, Nora Tucker's 3-pointer sliced the margin to three points at 56-53 at the 2:36 mark.
Two free throws by Aminah Hall gave BU a five-point advantage (60-55) with 1:40 remaining. Dunn and Muhammad both drained a pair of free throws in the final 19 seconds to seal the 64-55 victory.
The Bruins will host No. 13-ranked Mayville State University next Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3:00 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
