Hastings charges past BU in final non-conference tune-up

HASTINGS, Neb. -- A 14-0 Bronco run before the half powered Hastings College past the Bellevue University women's basketball team 62-50 in the final non-conference tilt of the season on Tuesday afternoon.

With the matinee victory, Hastings improves to 6-7 on the year while Bellevue sees their record dip to 7-8.

Bellevue got off to a slow start, hitting just one field goal over the first four and a half minutes of game time before Delaney VanBlaricon kicked off a 14-2 BU run that was interrupted only by a pair of free throws by Miriam Miller. The next 11 points were scored by BU as Rachel Goodon knocked down a jumper with 43 seconds to play as the Bruins led 16-10 after one quarter of play.

Seven quick points in the opening 90 seconds of the second quarter put the host Broncos back in front, 17-16, with Bruin coach Dave Denly utilizing a timeout. Kaylee Denker countered with a layup though a disjointed effort by the Bruins saw Hastings to engineer a 14-0 run to close the half and take a 37-22 lead into the break.

VanBlaricon and Gabby Moore led the Bruins with four points apiece in the first half though BU shot just 25% from the floor of 4-15 from deep. Hastings shot 42% as a unit. Kiernan Paulk leading the way with eight points at the break while Mariyah Avila and Goodon added seven apiece.

The Bronco lead bounced around from 13-19 throughout the third quarter with the Bruins turning the ball over seven times in the period. Hastings scored the final four points to take a 19-point lead, 53-34 into the fourth quarter.

A jumper by Ashtyn Arnold and a three from Moore gave the Bruins life early in the fourth as they trimmed the lead to 14 points. Bellevue closed to within a dozen on a layup by Aminah Hall but there was just 1:16 remaining at that point.

Moore and VanBlaricon finished with 12 apiece for the Bruins with Denker joining them in double figures with 11, narrowly missing a double-double as she finished with a team-high nine rebounds.

Goodon totaled 14 points and 13 boards to lead all players in both categories while Paulk tossed in 10 points and Avila added nine for the Broncos.

Bellevue returns home on Saturday, Jan. 6 when they open North Star Athletic Association play against 13^th-ranked Dakota State University at 1 p.m.