Fast start fuels Bruins in 81-67 win over Bethany

HILLSBORO, Kan. -- The Bellevue University women's basketball team got off to a fast start and never trailed en route to an 81-67 win over Bethany College on Friday evening in the first game of the Tabor College Classic.

With the win BU continued their strong start to the season, improving to 3-0. Bethany saw a modest two-game win streak snapped, falling back to .500 at 2-2.

Bellevue scored the first four points of the game which were quickly answered by Bethany before the Swedes took their first timeout at the 7:27 mark, six points into an 11-0 run BU run.

The Bruin defense flustered Bethany into seven first quarter turnovers, including five steals that led to a 14-2 advantage in points off turnovers in the period and BU led 30-14 at the end of the first. Zakiyyah Muhammad led the way with eight points while Taylor Dement added six and a pair of steals.

Bellevue struggled to find offensive consistency throughout much of the second quarter but a three by Gabby Moore from the wing restored their advantage to 15 points, 38-23, with 2:20 remaining. Those would be the final points of the half for BU as Bethany closed the half on a 10-3 run over the final 6:55.

Behind a trio of first half treys, Moore had 11 at the break to lead the Bruins. Muhammad led the way with four rebounds and Ashtyn Arnold paced the Bruins with five assists.

Jade Newfarmer paced Bethany with seven in the first half and Kaleigh O'Brien added five. Janae Black-Harmon pulled down six rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

Bellevue shot 48% to Bethany's 35% but the Swedes made up some of that gap at the free throw line, going 9-15 to BU's 3-5 effort.

The Bruins found some of their offensive flow out of the intermission, running their lead up to 15 points on a fast-break layup by Moore to cap an 9-2 run. Dru Zoucha buried a three-pointer and Moore added a free throw as the lead grew to 21 points with 3:59 to play in the quarter. Dement made a driving layup with 3.4 seconds left to give the Bruins a 66-48 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

For much of the fourth quarter, Bellevue kept Bethany at arm's length and looked to pull away over the final five minutes on a fast break lay-in for Zoucha and a corner three from Emma Russell to match their largest lead of the game at 21. The Swedes did not go quietly, rattling off eight-straight points in 1:12 of game time to pull within 13 at 78-65 with 3:03 remaining.

The lead shrunk to as few as 11 before Bellevue iced the game on a couple free throws by Danielle Coyer and a defensive stop in the final minute taking a 14-point victory.

Bellevue out-shot Bethany 45-39%, out-rebounded the Swedes 39-28, and won the turnover battle 15-13.

Moore led all scorers with 17 points and added three steals. She was joined in double figures by two other Bruins. Arnold scored 12 and dished out a game-high seven assists to go along with four rebounds. Zoucha tossed in 10, dished out five assists, and grabbed four rebounds. Muhammad added nine and a team-high seven rebounds.

Newfarmer scored 16 to lead Bethany, adding five rebounds, three assists, and four steals on the night.

Bellevue wraps up play at the Tabor College Classic tomorrow afternoon with a 3 p.m. tip-off against host Tabor.