Nov. 26, 2005
KEARNEY, Neb. -- [box
score] The Bemidji State University women's basketball
team battled back from a 14-point second-half deficit to garner
its first win of the 2005-06 campaign and of the Mike Curfman
era in dramatic fashion Saturday defeating Fort hays State
University, 77-74, in overtime. The game was BSU's final affair
at the University of Nebraska-Kearney/Holiday Inn Classic
in Kearney, Neb.
When Katie Deighton made a layup to give
Fort Hays State a 14-point (49-35) lead, its largest of the
night, with 15:18 to go in the game, things looked bleak for
the Beavers. But Nancy McConkey (Jr., Superior,
Wis.) would draw and foul on the other end of the floor and
would sink the second a her two free-throws to spark a BSU
rally.
During the next 13 minutes the Beavers would
consistently chip away at the Fort Hays lead hitting 9-of-18
from the field (.500) and 6-of-8 (.750) from the free-throw
line out scoring the Tigers 29-14 during the span. Seven different
BSU players pitched in at least one point during the run and
Maggie Gernbacher (Jr., G, Bloomington, Minn.)
capped off the run with three-pointer to put BSU on top 64-63.
It was the Beavers first lead in over 28 minutes and it came
with 2:44 left in regulation.
The teams traded points during the final
137 seconds. Fort Hays State's Ashlee Gustin knotted the game
at 68-68 with 22 seconds to play. The Beavers then took a
timeout with 10 seconds to go to diagram a play to get the
win. Amy Lawson (So., G, Spencer, Iowa) took
a shot before time expired, but it was off the mark and the
Beavers found themselves in their first overtime situation
of the season.
In the extra period, neither team shot particularly
well, but BSU took advantage of free-throw opportunities hitting
7-of-8 (.875) to hold off the Tigers to take its first game
of the season.
Stephanie Peterson (So.,
C, Bismarck, N.D.) posted career-best for both points and
rebounds for the second time in eight days netting 15 points
and 13 rebounds to collect her second double-double of the
season. She headlined a group of five BSU players which registered
at least 10 points in the game. Lawson also recorded a career-high
with a team-best 16 points while Gernbacher added 12, Heidi
Matzke (Fr., G, Red Lake Falls, Minn.) pitched in
11 and Karlee Simonson (So., F, Rockford,
Minn.) scored 10 points.
Behind the effort of Peterson on the glass,
the Beavers utterly dominated the boards. BSU held a 47-34
rebounding edge. In addition to Peterson's career-day, Simonson
and McConkey each pulled down 10.
For her efforts in the tournament, Peterson
was named to the all-tournament team.
Gustin scored 23 points to pace the Tigers
while Deighton gathered a team-best eight rebounds.
The win brings BSU to 1-4 on the season while
Fort Hays State moves to 3-2. The Beavers will return to Bemidji,
Minn. for their home opener Saturday (Dec. 3) when the team
will host Jamestown College. The non-conference affair is
slated for a 3 p.m. tip-off and begins a seven-game homestand
during the month of December.
