Omaha downs Bruins in exhibition, 84-53

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Bellevue University women's basketball team led by as many as eight points in the early going before a late first-half rally propelled NCAA Division I University of Nebraska at Omaha to an 84-53 victory in an exhibition contest Wednesday night at the Sapp Fieldhouse. 

Gabby Moore led the Bruins with 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Ashtyn Arnold finished with 12 points and five boards. Dru Zoucha chipped in with eight points, going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Danielle Coyer registered seven points and eight rebounds. 

Omaha was paced by Ja Harvey's 18 points, three assists, and three steals. Cora Olsen added 14 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Grace Cave finished with 12 points, seven boards, and three blocks.  

Josias Mickens scored five points in a 10-4 Bruin start to open the contest. A 7-2 BU run extended the advantage to eight points at 17-9 following a hook shot by Coyer at the 2:47 mark of the opening quarter. A 3-pointer by Arnold gave the Bruins a 20-12 edge after the opening 10 minutes of play. The Mavericks shot just 29.4 percent from the field in the first quarter, while the Bruins were 8-of-18 overall and 4-of-9 from long distance. 

After a 3-pointer by Zoucha gave the Bruins a 24-16 advantage, UNO closed the half on a 21-2 run to take a 37-26 lead into the intermission. 

Moore led BU in the opening half with six points, five rebounds, and two assists. 

Harvey paced the Mavericks with 11 points, two assists, and a pair of steals. 

After Omaha built a 22-point edge following a 10-0 run, Moore scored five points in a 7-0 spurt to trim the deficit to 15 at 52-37 with 4:52 left in the third quarter.  Another triple by Zoucha and a pair of free throws by Moore drew BU to within 14 points at 56-42. The Mavericks closed the third on an 11-0 run to take a 67-42 lead heading into the final frame. 

Bellevue got as close as 25 points in the fourth following a layup by Zakiyyah Muhammad before Omaha closed the contest on an 8-2 run to earn the 84-53 victory.  

The Bruins (9-3) return to action on Dec. 29-30 when they host the Four Points by Sheraton Bruin Classic in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. Bellevue will battle Midland at 5 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 29) before concluding the tournament on Monday (Dec. 30) with a 5 p.m. contest against Doane.