Big fourth quarter gives No. 24 UJ, 73-65, win over BU

Box Score
NSAA Standings

JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- The 24th-ranked University of Jamestown outscored Bellevue University, 24-14 in the fourth quarter as the Jimmies came from behind to earn a 73-65 victory in North Star Athletic Association women's basketball action Friday night at Harold Newman Arena. 

The Bruins fell to 10-6 on the season with the loss and 2-2 in the NSAA. Jamestown improved to 13-2 overall and 3-1 in league action. 

Ashtyn Arnold led four Bruins in double figures with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field. Gabby Moore added 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals. Kaylee Denker and Zakiyyah Muhammad finished with 12 points apiece. 

Kate Cordes paced the Jimmies with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from long range. Hannah Hagel added 11 points and five rebounds.  

The Jimmies hit five 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the contest to grab an early 20-8 advantage. BU closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run to slice the lead to seven points at 22-15. Cordes led the Jimmies in the opening frame with nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. 

A 12-3 run sparked by nine points from Denker drew the Bruins to within one point at 28-27 midway through the second quarter. After a five-point UJ scoring run, BU finished the half on a 9-4 spurt to make it a one-point contest at 37-36 at the intermission. 

Arnold led BU in the opening half with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. Denker added nine points and three rebounds. 

Cordes paced the Jimmies in the first half with 12 points, three boards, and a pair of assists. 

After a basket by Cordes to open the second half gave UJ a three-point edge, the Bruins scored seven straight to take a 43-39 lead. The Jimmies battled back, and a 3-pointer by Kate Busek and a free throw by Jailyn Martinson helped UJ regain the lead at 47-46 with 3:10 left in the third. Five straight by BU, including a deep triple by Brandi Dunn, countered by a 10-foot jumper from Cordes, made it 51-49 in favor of the Bruins, heading into the final frame.  

Six points by Hagel fueled a 10-2 run to open the fourth quarter as Jamestown pulled ahead, 59-53, with 6:50 remaining. After five straight from UJ pushed the Jimmie advantage to seven points, Arnold's layup made it 66-61 at the 3:33 mark. Neither team scored for two minutes until a Cordes' 3-pointer gave the Jimmies an eight-point (69-61) cushion. The Jimmies drained four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the 73-65 victory.  

The Bruins travel to Dickinson, N.D. tomorrow (Jan. 11) for a 4 p.m. (central time) contest at Dickinson State University.