BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- With 2.1 seconds on the clock and the score knotted at 83-83, Bemidji State University point guard Amy Lawson (Spencer, Iowa) took an inbounds pass, dribbled through traffic and heaved a 55-foot jumper that would bank in as time expired to claim an 86-83 victory over Minnesota State University (13-5) Tuesday at the BSU Gymnasium. The long-range three-pointer capped one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory as Beavers out scored the visiting Mavericks 15-2 during the game's final 2:47.
After a sluggish first half in which the BSU turned the ball over 15 times and when into the locker rooms down by 10 points, 42-32, the Beavers took over in the second half shooting 54.3-percent from the field (19-of-53), turned the ball over just five times and played aggressively in the paint to put together a surge to pull out a tough non-conference win.
Stephanie Peterson (Jr., C, Bismarck, N.D.) and Heidi Matzke (So., G, Red Lake Falls, Minn.) led all players with game-highs of 18 points a apiece. Matzke was 8-of-11 form the field and 1-of-3 from behind the arc while she added three assists and a steal to her career-high point total. Peterson made good on 6-of-12 from the field, was 6-of-7 from the free-throw line and led all players with eight rebounds. She also equaled a career-high with four bocks in the game.
Lawson's game-winner gave her 14 points on the night to go with her game-best eight assists and Kate Bremmer (Sr., G, Granite Falls, Minn.) netted 13 points in her third start of the year.
The Mavericks were led by Alex Andrews who scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Anna Voltmer contributed 16 points while Alanna Wahl dished out seven assists.
The Mavericks scored first and would dominate a good portion of the first half on the strengths of timely baskets and solid post play.
By the 9:08 mark, MSU had built a 10-point lead, 24-14. But when Peterson finally got in the scoring column sandwiching a pair of layups around a Colleen Boell (So., G, Burnsville, Minn.) triple, she brought BSU to within four points, 29-25, with 5:35 left in the half.
The Mavericks would collect themselves and hold the Beavers at an arms length ending the half on an 8-2 run to take a 42-32 lead into the break.
As the second half got underway, the Beavers stepped up their defensive pressure forcing three turnovers and holding the Mavericks to just 1-of-10 fro the floor during the first 5:14. Meanwhile BSU went on a 16-4 run capped by a pair of free-throws by Katherine Jamnick (Soudan, Minn.), a freshman that posted six points, five rebounds and two blocks in extended play due the season-ending injury to Karlee Simonson (Jr, F, Rockford, Minn.) last weekend, to put the Beavers in front, 48-46. It was the team' s first lead since the score was 7-5 after just 1:55 of play.
During the next sixty seconds the teams traded baskets and the lead, but a Heather Johnson layup with 13:41 to go gave the Mavericks a 52-50 advantage and swung moment back in MSU's favor.
Down six, 66-60, with eight minutes left on the clock, the Beavers would assemble another charge at the lead scoring seven of nine points during the next 2:26, including an old fashion three-point play by Lawson to reel the Mavericks to within a point, 68-67. But MSU would respond by netting eight consecutive points and 11 of the next 13 to stretch its lead to 10, 79-69.
Down 10, 81-71, with 2:47 to play, Matzke took the team on her back and single-handedly got BSU back in the game. During the next 1:14 the sophomore would combine a three-pointer, a jumper and a steal followed by a transition layup to bring the Beavers to within three, 78-81. A free-throw by Lawson at 1:12 would make it a two-point game and when Bremmer stepped in front of the Maverick inbounds pass and made a lay-up at the other end to tie the game, 81-81, with 45 seconds to go, each of the 415 in attendance began to envision a comeback win. But there was nothing that cold prepare them for what they were abut to witness.
After a pair of Alex Andrews free-throws gave MSU an 83-81 advantage, Peterson matched her at the other end to knot the game at 83-83 with 19 tics on the clock.
After a time out to draw up a play, the Mavericks struggled to find an open shot and Andrews over threw an entry into the post, turning the ball over with 2.1 second to play.
The rest is history.
Lawson dribbled past a defender and sent the BSU Gymnasium into a frenzy with her three-quarter court shot as the final horn sounded.
The win moves the Beavers to 11-17 all-time versus Minnesota State as BSU has won three of the last four meetings between the teams.
Bemidji State (8-7; 4-3 NSIC) turns its focus back to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend when it welcomes Winona State University and Upper Iowa University. The Warriors will visit the BSU Gymnasium on Friday with the Peacocks to follow Saturday. Both games are slated for 6 p.m. tip offs.
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