Seniors lead Bruins to NSAA Championship Game with 83-58 win over DSU

Box Score
NSAA Tournament Site

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Seniors Elexis Martinez (22) and Jamie Winkler (21) combined for 43 points to lead the second-seeded Bellevue University women's basketball team to a convincing 83-58 victory over sixth-seeded Dickinson State University in the semifinals of the North Star Athletic Association Tournament Thursday night in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  

The Bruins (17-6) will battle top-seeded and No. 14-ranked Dakota State University at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Madison, S.D. in the NSAA Championship Game. The Trojans defeated the No. 4-seed Mayville State University, 72-55, in other semifinal action Thursday night.  

Saturday's winner will receive an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament. It marks the second time in school history the Bruins have advanced to the championship contest after winning the title in 2019.

Martinez led the Bruins with 22 points, five rebounds, and three steals. She was 10-of-16 from the field. Winkler added 21 points and a game-high five assists along with three steals. 

Courtney Olson was the lone Blue Hawk in double figures, finishing with 19 points, along with six rebounds and three steals.  

Sparked by six points from Martinez, the Bruins hit 5-of-6 shots to open the game, racing out to a 12-5 lead. BU drained 4-of-7 3-point attempts in the first quarter to take a 22-9 advantage after the opening 10 minutes of play. 

After the Bruins opened the second quarter on a 14-5 run to extend the margin to 22 points (36-14), the Blue Hawks closed the half on a 15-6 spurt to close the deficit to 13 points at 42-29 at the intermission. 

Martinez led BU in the opening half with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting while adding three rebounds. Winkler added 10 points and a pair of assists. 

Mackenzi Reed paced DSU in the first half with nine points, nailing all three of her 3-point attempts.  

The Bruins took advantage of 13 first-half DSU turnovers, scoring 14 points off Blue Hawk miscues. 

Two triples by Winkler helped the Bruins to their largest lead of the third quarter at 21 points before BU settled for a 63-44 edge heading into the final frame.  

A 6-0 DSU run drew the Blue Hawks to within 17 points (67-50) before BU countered with seven-straight points capped by a 3-pointer from Delaney VanBlaricon to expand the cushion to 24 points at the 5:25 mark. 

The Blue Hawks never got closer than 20 points the remainder of the contest as BU cruised to the 83-58 victory. 

Bellevue outshot DSU 50 to 35.1 percent and held a 40-34 advantage in total rebounds in the contest.