Muhammad’s Record Night Lifts Bruins Past Midland

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BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Zakiyyah Muhammad tied the Bellevue University single-game scoring record with 29 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, the second-most in program history, to lead the Bruins past Midland University, 78–66, on Saturday evening in the Fairfield by Marriott Downtown Classic at the BU Fieldhouse.

The Bruins (3-1) raced out to an 11-0 lead fueled by early 3-pointers from Jhanel Coleman and Drasoni Kyles. The Warriors responded with a 7-3 run to cut the deficit to 14-7 following a 3-pointer by Jenna Weber midway through the first quarter. Midland closed the period on a 5-0 run to pull within five at 25-20. Muhammad led the Bruins with seven first-quarter points, going 2-for-2 from the field and 3-for-3 at the foul line, while Weber paced Midland with 10 points in the opening frame.

Midland briefly drew even early in the second quarter, but Bellevue regained control with perimeter shooting. Consecutive 3-pointers by Danielle Coyer pushed the lead to 45-28 with 2:40 remaining before halftime. Muhammad dominated the interior, finishing the half 5-of-5 from the field and 5-of-5 from the line with 15 points and seven rebounds, as the Bruins carried a 47-33 advantage into intermission.

After a layup by Muhammad gave Bellevue a 17-point lead midway through the third, the Warriors scored 11 straight points to cut the deficit to six at 60-54 following a jumper by Weber with 54 seconds left in the period. A short jumper by Coyer in the lane with 14 seconds left pushed the margin back to eight at 62-54 heading to the fourth.

Back-to-back baskets by Weber made it a six-point contest at 67-61 with six minutes to play, but the Bruins answered with key buckets by Kyles and Muhammad to restore a double-digit cushion. Weber's final surge of five consecutive points pulled Midland within 71-66 with 4:24 remaining, but the Warriors would not score again. Bellevue closed the game on a 7-0 run, including four points from Muhammad and a pair of free throws by Joy Beran, sealing the 78-66 victory.

Muhammad finished 10-of-11 from the field and 9-of-11 from the line while also recording four steals. It also marked her second double-double of the season.

Kyles added 10 points and three assists, while Coyer and Emma Russell chipped in eight and nine points, respectively. Beran contributed six points, six rebounds, and two steals. Bellevue shot 41.9 percent from the field and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the line while outrebounding Midland 39-30, leading to 17 second-chance points.

Weber led all scorers for Midland (0-4) with 36 points, and Skylar Indra added 12 points and six rebounds.

Up Next: The Bruins open Frontier Conference play next Saturday, Nov. 15, when they host fourth-ranked Dakota State University at 2 p.m. inside the BU Fieldhouse.