BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) [box score] -- The Bemidji State women’s basketball team earned its third consecutive win tonight at the BSU Gymnasium as the Beavers upended the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs, 77-70, in the Beavers home and conference opener.

The Beavers jumped out to a commanding 44-26 halftime lead but a late SMSU rally made things interesting as the Beavers were able to hold on for the seven point victory. The Beavers out-shot the Mustangs by the narrowest of margins as BSU shot .448 (26-58) in the game as the Mustangs shot .426 (26-61) in the contest. BSU used eight more points scored in the paint and 20 points off turnovers to help secure its third straight victory over the Mustangs.

Five Bemidji State players netted double-figures as the Beavers were led by Stephanie Peterson (Sr., C, Bismarck, N.D.) and Karlee Simonson (Sr., F, Rockford, Minn.) who each netted 15 points in the contest. Also finding double-figures in the contest for the Beavers was Heidi Matzke (Jr., G, Red Lake Falls, Minn.), Kirsten Hengstler (So., G, Andover, Minn.) and Amy Lawson (Sr., G, Spencer, Iowa). Matzke and Hengstler each had 12 points in the contest while Lawson netted 10 points for the Beavers. Peterson led BSU on the glass as she pulled down 12 rebounds to earn her third double-double of the season, second consecutive and the 26th of her career. The 15 points for Simonson was a season-high for her. Lawson added a season-high nine assists on the night.

The Mustangs were led by trio of Liz Grider, Sara Leidall, and Tori Fink who all had 14 points in the game. Heidi Kimmes was the Mustangs leading rebounder as she pulled down 12 rebounds. Abby Oakland led the Mustangs in assists as she had four on the night.

The Beavers never trailed in the contest. Lawson got the Beavers on the board in the early going as she netted 1-of-2 free throws to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead early. The Beavers started the first 14:45 of the contest on a 9-2 run as they used a could motion offense to open up the paint in the early going. Six of the Beavers first nine points were scored off a layup. BSU continued to apply pressure as they built their lead to 13 at 21-8 with just over 10:00 left in the half.

Good solid defense and poor shooting by Southwest Minnesota State University allowed the Beavers to continue to extend their lead as the Beavers held a lead as large as 23 points in the first half at 38-15 with 2:23 left in the first half. At that point is when the Mustangs started to turn the game in their favor. The Mustangs closed out the first half on a 11-6 run of cut the BSU lead to 18-points going into the break.
Peterson led the Beavers at the break as she netted 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.

At the start of the second half the Beavers pushed its lead back up to 23 as they out scored the Mustangs 11-6 to start the half. Simonson led the Beavers during the run as she netted 4 of the 11 points. For the remainder of the game the Mustangs out scored the Beavers 38-22 but ended up running out of time in their effort of a comeback win. The Mustangs shot .500 percent (17-34) in the second half but it was not enough as the Bemidji State was able to fend off a late comeback attempt by the Mustangs.

For the second straight game, Matzke came out of the break on a mission as she netted 10 of her 12 points in the second half. In the last two games, Matzke is averaging 17 points in the second half alone in her last two games. Simonson and Hengstler each scored seven points in the final half to help the Beavers hold on for the win.

With the win the Bemeidji State improves to 29-33 all-time versus the Mustangs from the Southwest Minnesota State University. The Beavers are currently on a three game winning streak over the Mustangs, their longest win streak over SMSU since Feb. 8, 1997 to Feb. 25, 1998 when BSU won four straight. Also, the Beavers move to 12-12 in home openers since 1982 and 6-4 when opening conference play at home since 1979-80.

Peterson moved up two spots to fourth on BSU’s all-time rebounding list as she grabbed 12 rebounds on the evening. She currently sits with 698 rebounds in her career.

The Beavers (3-2; 1-0 NSIC) will next be in action tomorrow afternoon (Dec. 1) when they take on the Wayne State College Wildcats at the BSU Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).