Bruins overpower Grace in home-opener
Bellevue won their first-ever home game, 96-40, over Grace on Wednesday
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Before a raucous crowd in their first-ever home game at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, the Bellevue University women's basketball team raced to a 96-40 victory over visiting Grace University on Wednesday evening.
With the win the Bruins continue their perfect start, improving to 3-0, while Grace remains winless, falling to 0-4 on the season.
Bellevue had four players record double figure scoring games with freshman Elexis Martinez leading the way with a game-high 25 on 11-for-21 shooting to go along with a team-leading four blocked shots.
Juniors Taylor Cormier and Ryleigh McCartney each canned three trifectas on their way to 12 and 11 points, respectively. Cormier dished out seven assists to go along with her 12 points. Freshman Angeliece Tucker scored 11 points off the bench with an efficient 4-for-7 shooting night.
After trading early baskets, and with the score tied at 5-5, the Bruins went on a 34-4 run to secure a 30-point lead with 6:08 to play in the first half.
Bellevue took a 46-16 lead into halftime and out-scored Grace 50-24 in the second half.
Junior Caletria Curtis fell just one steal short of a double-double, finishing the evening with 11 assists and nine thefts. She added four points and seven rebounds for the Bruins.
Juniors Christen Voyles scored nine points and pulled down six rebounds and classmate Cassidy Hubbs chipped in eight points and six rebounds for the Bruins.
The Bruins recorded assists on 31 of their 35 field goals on the game.
BU hit on 41.2 percent (35-for-85) of their field goal tries and knocked down 13-of-28 three-pointers (46.4 percent). They held Grace to just 28.3 percent shooting and out-rebounded the visiting Royals 52-43. Second-chance points went 17-7 in favor of the hosts who also saw a sizable 39-8 advantage in bench points.
Bellevue forced the Royals in 32 turnovers while committing just eight of their own. In doing so, BU out-scored Grace 35-2 in points off turnovers.
Kayla Bloodworth recorded a double-double in the loss for Grace, finishing with 11 points and 14 rebounds to go along with seven blocked shots.
The Bruins return to action this weekend with a pair of games at the Grand View Classic in Des Moines, Iowa. BU plays the host Vikings at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 before tipping off against Midland on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m.
