BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) (box score) - The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team ran into a buzz saw Friday night hosting the No. 10 team in the region in the Winona State University Warriors. One of the hottest teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) earned a season series split with the Beavers in a 89-60 drubbing over the Beavers at the BSU Gymnasium

Winona State shot 57.7 percent from the three point arc making 11 more three-point field goals than the Beavers as Winona State made 15-of-26 three-point attempts. BSU shot just 33.3 percent from behind the arc knocking down 4-of-12 three-point attempts.

BSU also squandered opportunities at the free-throw line as the team shot just 64 percent for the game (16-25).

Senior Amy Lawson (Spencer, Iowa) led the Beavers in scoring netting 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field, 2-of-3 from the three-point line and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Stephanie Peterson (Sr., C, Bismarck, N.D.) and Colleen McKay (Fr., F, Barnum, Minn.) each recorded double-digits with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Karlee Simonson (Sr., F, Rockford, Minn.) hauled in a game-high 10 rebounds for her third double-digit rebound game of the season and the ninth of her career. Lawson dished out a team-high five assists.

Four Warriors paced the WSU offensive attack as Jenny Steffen posted a game-high 24 points on 8-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from the three-point line. Kelsey Homewood added 18 points with all of her points coming from the three-point line. She finished the game going 6-of-10 from behind the arc. Natalie Gigler and Ana Wurtz rounded out the Warriors scoring with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Molly Anderson grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and dished out a game-high eight assists.

The Beavers and Warriors began the game trading baskets as their were three lead changes and four tied scores in the first 15.58 of the first half. With the game tied at 10-10 the Warriors started to pull away from the Beavers as they went on a 17-6 run to push its lead to 11-points (27-16) in a seven minutes span capped off by a Steffen three-pointer.

The Warriors continued to apply pressure and pushed its lead to its largest of the half at 13 (35-22) off a Homewood three with 4:46 left in the half. The Beavers responded and went on a 13-4 run to reel the Warriors to with in four points (39-35) with :58 seconds remaining in the half but the Warriors seventh three-pointer of the half, this time by Jamie Majerowicz gave WSU a 42-35 lead heading into the break.

The second half started the way the first half ended with WSU knocking down yet another three-point field goal. Homewood hit her fourth three-pointer of the game to give the Warriors a 10-point lead with 19:15 remaining in the game (45-35). The Beavers trimmed the Warriors lead to under 10-points with 18:56 left (45-36) but that was the last time the Beavers would be under a 10-point deficit in the game.

Over the last 19:00 minutes of the game Winona State outscored the Beavers 43-24 earning a 89-60 win over the Beavers. The second half saw the Warriors shoot 57.7 percent from the field (15-24) and 52.7 percent from the three-point line (8-13) while out rebounding the Beavers 17-12.

For the game WSU shot 57.7 percent from the field (29-55) while the Beavers were just 35.1 percent from the field (20-57).

The loss eliminates BSU’s hopes of hosting a first round game in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament.

The loss drops Bemidji State to 12-14 overall and 8-9 in NSIC play. The Beavers currently are in sole possession of sixth in the standings in the NSIC. With the win the Warriors improve to 20-8 overall and 10-7 in conference play.

The Beavers are now 38-24 versus the Warriors with the loss and have lost three of the last four games with the Warriors.

The Beavers are back in action tomorrow as they will host Upper Iowa University in the final regular season game on senior night from the BSU Gymnasium. Game time is set for a 6:00 p.m. start.

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

--beavers--