No. 12 Montana Tech pulls away late to top BU, 73-57

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Twelfth-ranked Montana Tech University used a strong second half and efficient shooting to pull away for a 73-57 win over Bellevue University in Frontier Conference women's basketball action Saturday evening at the BU Fieldhouse.

With the loss, the Bruins fall to 8-10 overall and 4-9 in Frontier play. The Orediggers improve to 15-2 on the season and 11-2 in conference games.

MTU shot 53.7 percent from the floor (29-for-54), including 5-for-13 from beyond the arc, and finished 10-for-13 at the free-throw line. Bellevue countered at 37.7 percent from the field (20-for-53), 33.3 percent from long range (6-for-18), and 78.6 percent at the stripe (11-for-14). The Orediggers held a slight 32-30 edge on the boards and outscored BU 42-28 in the paint, while the Bruins owned a 10-8 advantage in second-chance points.

Joy Beran led Bellevue with 18 points on 9-for-15 shooting to go with seven rebounds, marking her 11th double-digit scoring effort of the season and finishing one point shy of her season high. Zakiyyah Muhammad added 11 points, five rebounds, four blocks and two steals, and Karoline Ellison finished with 10 points and four boards, going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Dru Zoucha contributed nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc, and Jhanel Coleman chipped in six points and four rebounds off the bench.

Montana Tech was paced by Brooke Badovinac's 23 points on 10-for-13 shooting, along with six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Liv Wangerin posted 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Olivia Nielson added 12 points and eight rebounds. Hallie Haber contributed eight points, and Hallie Neibauer scored nine, hitting a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as the Orediggers pulled away.

How It Happened

Bellevue got off to a fast start, opening a 6-1 lead on a pair of free throws from Muhammad and a transition layup by Beran at the 6:49 mark of the first quarter. From there, Montana Tech answered with the first extended run of the night.

Badovinac and Neibauer fueled an 18-8 Oredigger surge over the remainder of the period, turning the five-point deficit into a 19-14 lead after 10 minutes. Badovinac scored nine points in the quarter, including a pair of fast-break baskets and a late jumper, as MTU took control of the momentum.

The teams traded baskets through much of the second quarter. Beran and Zoucha scored inside to keep BU close, and a 3-pointer from Zoucha helped trim the deficit. However, Montana Tech continued to find success around the rim and on the glass, pushing its advantage to 37-30 at halftime behind a 38.7 percent shooting mark in the opening half and a 20-12 edge in paint points.

Montana Tech extended its lead early in the third period. Wangerin drilled a 3-pointer and later added a layup as the Orediggers built an 11-point cushion at 44-33. The Bruins responded with a 6-0 mini-run, as Beran scored on consecutive drives and Coleman added a free throw to cut the margin to 44-39 with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter.

After BU pulled within five again at 39-44 and later 41-48, MTU closed the frame with a key sequence. Wangerin connected on a 3-pointer from the wing with 30 seconds left, giving the Orediggers a 51-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Bellevue made one more push early in the final period. Layups by Ellison and Beran, followed by two Ellison free throws, pulled the Bruins within 53-47 and later 58-50 after a 3-pointer from Zoucha at the 6:37 mark.

Montana Tech had the answer down the stretch. Neibauer knocked down a 3-pointer, Nielson followed with another triple from the left side, and Haber added a pair of interior baskets as part of a 17-7 closing stretch. Haber's layup with 1:55 remaining gave the Orediggers their largest lead of the night at 68-52.

Muhammad hit a late 3-pointer, and Ellison added free throws in the final minute, but MTU maintained control and closed out the 73-57 road victory on a jumper from Badovinac just before the horn.

Top Performers

Bellevue University

Joy Beran — 18 points, 7 rebounds, 9-for-15 FG (11th double-figure scoring game; one shy of season high)

Zakiyyah Muhammad — 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals

Karoline Ellison — 10 points, 4 rebounds, 6-for-6 FT

Dru Zoucha — 9 points, 3-for-3 3FG

Jhanel Coleman — 6 points, 4 rebounds

Montana Tech University

Brooke Badovinac — 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, 10-for-13 FG

Liv Wangerin — 17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2-for-3 3FG

Olivia Nielson — 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks

Hallie Haber — 8 points, 2 rebounds

Hallie Neibauer — 9 points, 4-for-7 FG, 1-for-2 3FG

Inside the Numbers

Montana Tech outscored Bellevue 42-28 in points in the paint.

BU held a 10-8 edge in second-chance points and matched MTU on the offensive glass, 10-7.

The Orediggers converted 15 points off 16 BU turnovers, while the Bruins managed 8 points off 12 MTU miscues.

Montana Tech's largest lead was 16 points at 68-52 with 1:55 remaining; Bellevue's biggest advantage was five points at 6-1 early in the first quarter.

The game featured one tie and two lead changes, both occurring in the opening period.

Up Next

The Bruins will travel to Madison, S.D., next Friday, Jan. 23, for a 5 p.m. league contest at seventh-ranked Dakota State University.