Bruins edge Dickinson State 71-69 in road nail-biter

Box Score
Frontier Standings

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Bellevue University edged Dickinson State University 71-69 in a tightly contested Frontier Conference women's basketball game that featured 18 ties and 14 lead changes Friday night at Scott Gymnasium. The Bruins improved to 7-8 overall and 3-7 in Frontier play, while the Blue Hawks dropped to 4-10, 2-8 in the conference. No team led by more than five points at any time, and 12 of the 18 ties came after halftime.

Zakiyyah Muhammad led BU with 15 points and five rebounds, going 5-for-9 from both the field and the free-throw line. Joy Beran recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Drasoni Kyles added 11 points with two 3-pointers and was 5-for-8 at the line, while Karoline Ellison and Emma Russell each contributed eight points.

Dickinson State was paced by Kyrie Alldredge's 17 points, four rebounds, and a 2-for-3 effort from beyond the arc. Anhelica Shanrock and Kaylin Garza added 13 points apiece, with Shanrock hitting three 3-pointers and Garza chipping in three rebounds. The Blue Hawks also received 11 combined points and 11 rebounds off the bench from Karson Tempel and Makena Hauge.

The Blue Hawks shot 45.0 percent from the field (27-for-60) and 26.9 percent from 3-point range (7-for-26), while the Bruins finished at 39.0 percent overall (23-for-59) and 33.3 percent from deep (6-for-18). Bellevue made up ground at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 27 attempts (70.4 percent) compared to DSU's 8-for-12 (66.7 percent) effort. Dickinson State held a 41-33 advantage on the boards, including 15 offensive rebounds, but the Bruins turned Blue Hawk miscues into an 18-5 edge in points off turnovers and owned a 32-26 margin in points in the paint.

How It Happened

Bellevue opened the game with a 5-0 start behind a right-wing 3-pointer from Kyles and a layup by Dru Zoucha. DSU responded, pulling even at 5-5 and again at 7-7 before briefly moving in front 9-7. The Bruins rebuilt a three-point cushion at 12-9 on a pair of free throws by Russell, but Garza scored five straight points in the final 17 seconds, including a three-point play and a free throw, to help the Blue Hawks forge a 14-14 tie after one quarter.

DSU seized its largest lead of the night early in the second. Tempel scored inside and Garza followed with a second-chance basket and a 3-pointer from the left wing to cap a 7-0 stretch that put the Blue Hawks ahead 21-16 with 7:00 left in the half. Bellevue answered with a 9-1 surge keyed by Ellison and Beran. Ellison scored inside, Beran converted in the lane, and a pair of free throws followed by a driving basket from Ellison pushed BU back in front 25-22 at the 4:50 mark.

After DSU pulled even at 25-25, the teams continued to trade small bursts and ties. A 3-pointer by Russell and a pair of Beran free throws helped the Bruins regain a 34-30 advantage before a 3-pointer from J'Ell Garfield cut the margin to one. Ellison drove for a basket with five seconds remaining in the half to send Bellevue to the locker room with a 36-33 lead.

The third quarter set the tone for a back-and-forth second half. Shanrock drilled a second-chance 3-pointer on the opening DSU possession to tie the game at 36-36, the first of 12 second-half ties. From there, the teams traded scores and leads throughout the period. Muhammad, Kyles, and Zoucha provided key buckets as BU built a 52-49 advantage with 2:08 left in the third. Dickinson State closed the quarter on a 4-0 spurt, with Alldredge scoring inside and Tempel converting a second-chance basket in the final 33 seconds to give the Blue Hawks a 53-52 lead heading into the fourth.

The final period featured six ties and four lead changes. Muhammad opened the quarter with a basket to put BU back on top 54-53, but DSU answered and eventually moved ahead 57-55. The teams then alternated scores, with ties at 55-55, 57-57, 60-60, and 62-62 as both sides continued to convert in the half-court.

Bellevue created a bit of separation when back-to-back scores pushed the Bruins in front 68-64 with just under four minutes remaining. DSU responded once more, chipping away and tying the game at 68-68 on a Garfield basket with 1:55 left. After a defensive stop, Alldredge split a pair of free throws at the 1:04 mark to give the Blue Hawks a 69-68 edge.

BU had the final answer in the closing seconds. After multiple offensive rebounds extended the possession, Beran grabbed a loose ball in traffic and converted a second-chance basket with 22 seconds remaining to put the Bruins back in front 70-69. Following a defensive stop, Muhammad went to the line and made the first of two free throws with 15 seconds left for a 71-69 lead. The Blue Hawks had one final chance, but a late jumper in the paint was off the mark, and Bellevue secured the rebound to close out the two-point victory.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

Zakiyyah Muhammad — 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5-for-9 FG, 5-for-9 FT

Joy Beran — 14 points, 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 4-for-4 FT (third double-double of the season)

Drasoni Kyles — 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2-for-5 3FG, 5-for-8 FT

Karoline Ellison — 8 points, 4-for-11 FG

Emma Russell — 8 points, 2-for-6 3FG, 2-for-2 FT

Dickinson State University

Kyrie Alldredge — 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2-for-3 3FG, 5-for-7 FT

Anhelica Shanrock — 13 points, 3-for-5 3FG, 3 rebounds

Kaylin Garza — 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1-for-5 3FG, 2-for-3 FT

Karson Tempel — 4 points, 6 rebounds

Makena Hauge — 4 points, 6 rebounds

Inside the Numbers

The game featured 18 ties and 14 lead changes, with 12 ties coming after halftime. Neither team led by more than five points at any stage.

Dickinson State held a 41-33 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive boards that led to an 18-15 edge in second-chance points.

Bellevue finished 23-for-59 from the field (39.0 percent), 6-for-18 from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 19-for-27 at the line (70.4 percent). DSU shot 27-for-60 overall (45.0 percent), 7-for-26 from deep (26.9 percent), and 8-for-12 at the stripe (66.7 percent).

The Bruins outscored the Blue Hawks 32-26 in points in the paint and 18-5 in points off turnovers, while Dickinson State's bench produced a 30-18 scoring advantage.

Up Next

The Bruins will travel to Bismarck, N.D., on Saturday, Jan. 10, for a 5 p.m. league contest at Bismarck State University.