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No. 23 Rocky uses 30-point third quarter to top BU, 77-66
February 7, 2026

No. 23 Rocky uses 30-point third quarter to top BU, 77-66

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- No. 23 Rocky Mountain College used a 30-point third quarter and a dominant rebounding effort to pull away for a 77-66 Frontier Conference women's basketball win over Bellevue University on Saturday afternoon at the BU Fieldhouse.
 
With the loss, the Bruins fell to 9-14 overall and 5-13 in Frontier Conference play. The Battlin' Bears improved to 16-8 on the season and 13-5 in league action.
 
Rocky put four of its five starters in double figures, led by Brenna Linse's 22 points and 10 rebounds. Angelina Cavanaugh and Paige Wasson each added 21 points as the trio combined for 64 of Rocky's 77 points. The four starters in double figures accounted for 75 of the Battlin' Bears' 77 total points, with Isabelle Heggem finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds as Rocky shot 42.6 percent from the field.
 
Bellevue was paced by Zakiyyah Muhammad's 15 points, as she went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line and added three rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. Karoline Ellison and Dru Zoucha each scored 12 points, with Ellison pulling down six rebounds and handing out three assists. Drasoni Kyles finished with nine points and a team-high seven assists, while Jhanel Coleman provided seven points off the bench.
 
Rocky held a 46-28 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive boards that led to a 24-10 edge in second-chance points. The Battlin' Bears also led 38-20 in points in the paint and 11-6 in points off turnovers. BU shot 38.6 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent (9-for-27) from 3-point range, and 92.9 percent (13-for-14) at the line, while Rocky finished 29-for-68 overall, 8-for-24 from deep, and 11-for-15 at the stripe.
 
How It Happened
 
The Bruins controlled the early stages, building an 8-3 lead midway through the first quarter on a jumper from Muhammad at the 5:17 mark. Rocky answered with a 10-0 run to close the period. Cavanaugh started the stretch with a 3-pointer, Wasson added a fast-break layup, Linse scored inside, and Wasson capped the quarter with another 3-pointer to put the Battlin' Bears ahead 13-8 after 10 minutes.
 
BU drew within a point in the second quarter when Muhammad's driving layup made it 15-14, and Coleman's 3-pointer from the right wing cut the deficit to 21-19 with 3:39 left in the half. Rocky again responded, as Cavanaugh knocked down another 3-pointer and Wasson finished in transition to push the lead back to multiple possessions. Linse added free throws late in the period before Tarryn Godsey split a pair at the line in the final 30 seconds, and Rocky took a 28-20 advantage into halftime.
 
The third quarter featured the Battlin' Bears' decisive push. Joy Beran buried a 3-pointer on BU's first possession of the half and Ellison converted a fast-break layup to trim the margin to 28-25. After Rocky nudged the lead back to six, Kyles connected from beyond the arc to pull the Bruins within 41-38 at the 3:49 mark, and two Muhammad free throws made it 44-40 with 2:56 remaining in the period.
 
From there, Rocky closed the quarter on a 14-7 surge to regain control. Cavanaugh hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the run, Linse scored inside and completed a three-point play, and Heggem added a putback. Linse's layup and free throw in the final minute, followed by another Cavanaugh 3-pointer with five seconds left, sent the Battlin' Bears to the fourth quarter with a 58-47 lead after a 30-point frame.
 
Rocky maintained a double-digit margin for much of the final period. Linse continued to score around the rim, and a Wasson jumper kept the lead at 64-52 with just over seven minutes to play. BU mounted one final push, as Ellison drove for a layup and, after an offensive rebound from Muhammad, Kyles buried a 3-pointer from the left wing to cut the deficit to 64-59 with 6:12 remaining.
 
The Battlin' Bears answered again. Wasson converted a fast-break layup to push the margin back to seven, and Cavanaugh knocked down two free throws to make it 68-59 at the 4:50 mark. Bellevue stayed within range on a Zoucha 3-pointer and a pair of Muhammad free throws, but Rocky closed out the game at the line. Wasson and Heggem combined for three free throws in the final 30 seconds, and BU was unable to generate a late run as Rocky finished off the 77-66 victory.
 
Top Performers
Bellevue University
  • Zakiyyah Muhammad – 15 points, 3-for-7 FG, 1-for-2 3FG, 8-for-8 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
  • Karoline Ellison – 12 points, 6-for-11 FG, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
  • Dru Zoucha – 12 points, 4-for-7 FG, 2-for-5 3FG, 2-for-2 FT, 3 rebounds
  • Drasoni Kyles – 9 points, 3-for-10 3FG, 3 rebounds, 7 assists
  • Jhanel Coleman – 7 points, 3-for-4 FG, 1-for-1 3FG, 2 rebounds
Rocky Mountain College
  • Brenna Linse – 22 points, 8-for-16 FG, 6-for-9 FT, 10 rebounds, 4 assists
  • Angelina Cavanaugh – 21 points, 7-for-12 FG, 5-for-9 3FG, 2-for-2 FT
  • Paige Wasson – 21 points, 9-for-20 FG, 2-for-8 3FG, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
  • Isabelle Heggem – 11 points, 4-for-11 FG, 1-for-3 3FG, 2-for-2 FT, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks
  • Tailyn Black – 2 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
Inside the Numbers
  • Rocky held a 46-28 advantage on the boards and a 21-10 edge in offensive rebounds.
  • The Battlin' Bears turned those extra possessions into a 24-10 margin in second-chance points.
  • Rocky outscored BU 38-20 in points in the paint and 11-6 in points off turnovers.
  • The Bruins' bench outscored Rocky's reserves 10-0, led by Coleman and Godsey.
  • Cavanaugh, Wasson and Linse combined for 64 of Rocky's 77 points, while the four starters in double figures accounted for 75 of the 77.
  • BU went 13-for-14 at the free-throw line (92.9 percent), while Rocky finished 11-for-15 (73.3 percent).
Up Next
The Bruins will travel to Butte, Mont., next Friday, Feb. 13, for a 6 p.m. (CT) Frontier contest at 13th-ranked Montana Tech University.
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