Ross leads Bruins to 72-63 win over V-Hawks

Box Score
NSAA Standings

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Faith Ross scored 21 points to lead the Bellevue University women's basketball team to a 72-63 victory at Viterbo University Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium. 

The Bruins, who completed the season sweep over the V-Hawks after beating VU, 72-64, on Jan. 2 in Bellevue, improved to 9-5 on the season and 5-2 in the NSAA. Viterbo fell to 4-4 overall and 3-3 in league play. 

Ross went 8-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from behind the arc while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the win. Jamie Winkler drained four 3-pointers, registering 16 points and five rebounds. Elexis Martinez was the third Bruin in double figures, finishing with 13 points along with five boards. 

Kacie Gross was the lone V-Hawk in double figures, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. Ambree Schlosser and Sophie Leinfelder chipped in with nine points apiece.  

Winkler went 3-for-4 from long range in the first quarter and BU was 6-of-11 from the field, but eight Bruin turnovers led to 10 VU points as the V-Hawks took a 20-17 lead after the opening quarter of play. Winkler scored nine first-quarter points. The V-Hawks, who shot 50 percent from the field in the opening quarter, were led by Leinfelder and Schlosser, who each registered five points in the first 10 minutes of play. 

The Bruins overcame a 29-23 deficit, using a 9-0 run to take a 32-29 lead with 3:51 left before halftime. Viterbo responded with five-consecutive points to close the half, taking a 34-32 lead at the intermission. 

Winkler led the Bruins in the first half with nine points and three rebounds. Ross added eight points, four boards, and two assists. Leinfelder paced the V-Hawks with eight first-half points. 

Seven-straight points from Ross highlighted a 12-0 BU run as the Bruins took a 46-38 advantage with 6:12 left in the third quarter. Ross scored 11 points in the third as BU outscored the V-Hawks, 27-16, to take a 59-50 cushion heading into the final quarter. 

After a pair of free throws by Ross gave BU a 14-point (69-55) lead, the V-Hawks went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to eight (69-61) with 2:13 remaining in the contest. 

Taeha Pankey made 3-of-4 free throws in the final minute to seal the 72-63 victory.  

The Bruins will travel to Forest City, Iowa tomorrow for a 3 p.m. matchup against Waldorf University.