BELLEVUE, Neb. — Kennedy Stormer posted 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and five steals as Bismarck State (N.D.) pulled away in the second half to defeat Bellevue (Neb.) 76-65 Thursday at the BU Fieldhouse.
The Mystics (9-17, 9-12 Frontier Conference) trailed by as many as five in the first quarter before a balanced second-half effort gave them the separation they wouldn't relinquish. Off the bench, Alionna Lawrence turned in one of the most efficient performances of the night, scoring 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 stretch in the third quarter that helped BSC pull ahead for good.
Bellevue came out hot, shooting 60% from the field and 57% from three in the opening quarter to hold a 23-20 advantage. The Bruins' Emma Russell was particularly damaging off the bench, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Mystics responded with a decisive second-half push, but the evening's most significant moment came quietly in the first quarter. With 8:24 remaining in the period, Stormer converted a layup in the paint to reach 1,000 career collegiate points, a milestone that spanned three programs. The senior guard scored 94 points as a freshman at Northern State (S.D.) before adding 350 more over two seasons at Minot State (N.D.), and has been prolific since arriving in Bismarck, eclipsing the 500-point mark in just this year alone.
Stormer fueled a second-quarter comeback with multiple steals that ignited fast-break opportunities, and BSC carried the game into halftime tied at 36. The Mystics then outscored Bellevue 40-29 over the final two quarters, clamping down defensively while the Bruins shot just 23% from the field in the fourth quarter.
Aleah McPherson provided a key spark in the fourth, scoring seven points, including a three-pointer that pushed BSC's lead to 10 with just over four minutes remaining, the Mystics' largest advantage of the night.
The Bruins coughed the ball up 19 times on the night, leading to 19 Bismarck State points off turnovers. BSC committed just 10 turnovers in return.
Lawrence led the bench with 16 points. Piper Harris added seven points and four assists in the starting lineup, while Natalie DeCoteau chipped in six points and four rebounds.
Bismarck State shot 40.3% from the field and 27.5% from three, but connected on 11-of-12 free throws (91.7%) to close out the victory before an attendance of 162 at the BU Fieldhouse.
The Mystics conclude the regular season tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21, at No. 6 Dakota State, with tip-off set for 5 p.m. Their previous matchup on Jan. 9 was a narrow 93-82 Trojan victory, an effort the Mystics hope to replicate as they face what will be their round one foe in the Frontier Conference tournament.
Check out the women's schedule for information on how to follow and watch the team.
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