No. 6 Trojans down Bellevue, 72-60

Box Score
NSAA Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The trio of Tabor Teel, Bria Wasmund, and Angela Slattery combined for 50 points to lead sixth-ranked Dakota State University to a 72-60 victory over Bellevue University in women's basketball action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. 

The loss dropped the Bruins to 12-11 on the season and 4-7 in the NSAA. DSU improved to 18-4 overall and 10-1 in league play. 

Ashtyn Arnold led the Bruins with 17 points and nine rebounds. Gabby Moore added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Kaylee Denker finished with 14 points, eight boards, and three blocks. 

Teel recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Wasmund added 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and a 4-of-5 effort from beyond the arc. Slattery finished with 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range. DSU hit 13-of-31 shots from beyond the arc in the victory. 

The Trojans led by as many as six points in the first quarter before Arnold scored eight points in an 11-6 BU run, slicing the margin to one point at 18-17 with 50 seconds left in the first. DSU ended the first frame on a 5-0 run to pull ahead, 23-17, after the opening 10 minutes of play. Arnold scored 13 points in the opening quarter, going 5-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. 

Moore scored the Bruins' first seven points of the second quarter to draw BU to within two points at 26-24 with 7:37 left in the half.  Six-straight points capped by a short jumper from Denker gave BU its first lead of the contest at 30-29 at the 5:14 mark.

An 11-0 DSU run, fueled by three-straight 3-pointers, helped the Trojans regain a 10-point edge at 40-30 with 2:43 left before intermission. After BU scored five straight, a 3-pointer by Cierra Watkins made it 43-35 at the break.  

Arnold led BU in the first half with 15 points and four rebounds. Denker added eight points, five boards, and two blocks. Moore registered seven points and four assists in the opening half. 

Teel paced the Trojans in the first half with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Slattery added 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. 

After the Bruins opened the second half with a six-point run, the Trojans answered with a 7-0 surge to take a 50-41 lead with 2:46 left in the third. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter as DSU took a 55-46 lead heading into the final frame. 

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Olivia Ritter and Wasmund keyed a 13-4 Trojan run, pushing the margin to 16 points at 70-54 with three minutes remaining in the game. The Bruins countered with four straight to pull to within 12 as DSU earned the 72-60 victory.  

The Bruins will host Valley City State University at 5:30 next Friday, Feb. 14, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Bellevue University Fieldhouse. Admission is FREE as the Bruins open up play in BU's new arena.