Providence edges Bellevue in double overtime, 74–71

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Bellevue University and the University of Providence traded 16 ties and 23 lead changes in a tightly contested Frontier Conference women's basketball matchup on Saturday evening, but the Bruins came up just short in a 74–71 double-overtime loss at the BU Fieldhouse.

Bellevue (3–4, 0–3 Frontier) forced overtime on Jhanel Coleman's free throw with 1:38 remaining in regulation, and later extended the game to a second overtime on Karoline Ellison's driving layup with one second left in the first extra period. But the Argos (4–2, 1–2 Frontier) used timely interior scoring and a 9-of-12 effort at the free-throw line across the two overtimes to earn their first conference win of the season.

How It Happened

After entering the fourth quarter tied 43–43, the Bruins built a pair of four-point leads behind baskets from Zakiyyah Muhammad and Coleman, but Providence answered with a 7–2 stretch—capped by a three-pointer from Eliann Ramirez—to go ahead 55–53 with 3:26 remaining.

Coleman briefly restored the BU advantage with a three-pointer at the 2:31 mark, and the teams traded scores until Mckenna Reggear put the Argos ahead 57–56 with 2:18 to go. Muhammad split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 52–52 earlier in the period, but it was Coleman's free throw with 1:38 left—after being fouled on a drive—that pulled Bellevue even at 57–57. Neither team scored again, and Muhammad blocked Providence's final attempt to send the game to overtime.

In the first overtime, Joy Beran put BU ahead twice at the foul line, and Kaylee Denker knocked down a jumper for a 62–61 lead with 2:02 remaining. Providence responded with free throws from Ainsley Thurber and a transition layup from Madi Reibel to move ahead 66–64. Bellevue extended the game when Ellison drove the right side and scored with one second remaining, tying it at 66–66 and forcing a second overtime.

Providence opened double overtime with a basket from Katie Fleming, but BU answered with a three-pointer from Dru Zoucha to take a 69–68 lead. The Argos regained the advantage at the line before Beran knocked down two free throws at the 2:15 mark, giving Bellevue its final lead at 71–70.

Providence tied the game on two free throws from Thurber, then went in front for good at 72–71 on Reibel's layup with 40 seconds remaining. After a defensive stop, Reibel added two more free throws with 12 seconds left to make it 74–71. Out of timeouts, Bellevue advanced the ball quickly but was unable to generate a shot attempt before the horn.

Top Performers

Bellevue University 

Joy Beran: 17 points (7–10 FT), 4 rebounds, 2 assists

Karoline Ellison: 11 points, 2 assists, team-high +15

Emma Russell: 8 points (2–3 3FG), 1 rebound, 2 steals

Dru Zoucha: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Zakiyyah Muhammad: 7 points, team-high 9 rebounds, 6 blocks, 1 steal

University of Providence 

Madi Reibel: 19 points, 8–8 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Eliann Ramirez: 13 points, 9 rebounds

Ainsley Thurber: 15 points, 5–6 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Mckenna Reggear: 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists

Inside the Numbers

Providence held a 50–44 rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points.

Bellevue shot 42.3% from the field compared to UP's 30.4%, but the Argos attempted 27 more shots.

BU finished 9-for-25 (36%) from three and tallied 15 assists on 22 made field goals.

Turnovers proved costly, with the Bruins committing 26, leading to 22 Providence points.

Bellevue blocked eight shots, including six from Muhammad.

Up Next

Bellevue travels to Lincoln, Neb., on Monday, Nov. 24, for a 7 p.m. non-conference matchup at NCAA Division III Nebraska Wesleyan University.