BELLEVUE, Neb. --
Thirteenth-ranked Mayville State University, who trailed most of the game, outscored the Bruins, 30-16, in the fourth quarter to register a 73-60 victory over Bellevue University Saturday afternoon in North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the loss, the Bruins fell to 10-11 on the season and 3-3 in the NSAA. MSU improved to 16-3 overall and 5-1 in league play.
Ashtyn Arnold led four Bruins in double figures, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Brandi Dunn and Gabby Moore scored 13 points apiece, and Kaylee Denker chipped in with 11 points.
Jordan Zrust paced MSU with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals. Zrust scored 19 of her points in the second half. Jes Mertens added 17 points, three boards, two assists, two blocks, and a pair of steals.
The Comets hit 10-of-15 from long range, including a perfect 4-of-4 in the final quarter.
Bellevue hit five of its first six shots, racing out to an 11-0 lead in the first three minutes of the contest. After layups by Arnold and Shelby Little extended the margin to 13 points, the Comets closed the quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by triples from Erin Walcker and Greta Hillukka to slice the deficit to five points at 15-10 after the opening 10 minutes of play.
The two teams traded baskets for the entirety of the second frame as MSU never got closer than three points, and the Bruins never led by more than six points, as BU took a 28-24 lead into the halftime break.
Arnold led the Bruins in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field while adding three rebounds.
Zrust paced MSU in the opening half with four points and two boards as the Comets made just 8-of-20 shots from the field.
MSU opened the second half on a 7-3 run to tie the contest at 31-all following four straight points from Zrust. A 3-pointer by Zrust gave the Comets their first lead of the game at 34-33 with six minutes left in the third quarter.
After a 3-pointer by VanBlaricon and a layup by Denker helped give the Bruins a four-point advantage, MSU closed the third on a 5-2 run as BU took a slim 44-43 lead heading into the final stanza.
Two straight triples by Mackenzie Hughes and CJ Decker gave the Comets a 53-49 edge with seven minutes remaining in the contest. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Mertens and Decker gave MSU a double-digit lead at 63-53 at the 3:33 mark. The Bruins never got closer than eight points the remainder of the game as MSU hit eight-straight free throws in the final 1:08 to earn the 73-60 victory.
The Bruins will head to Forest City, Iowa, on Friday, Feb. 2, for a 5:30 p.m. NSAA contest at Waldorf University.
