BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) - The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team kept the game close early but a 37-11 run in the final 12:31 of the first half by No. 22 Minnesota State University, Moorhead put the Beavers in a hole they couldn’t get out of. The Dragons went on to take a 90-71 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) victory over BSU.

After MSUM took the lead on the opening tip with a lay up by Meghan Rettke, the Beavers scored on three straight possessions taking their first lead of the game at 6-4 with 16:18 left in the half. BSU continued to push and eventually took a eight point lead (16-8) off a pair of free-throws by Katherine Jamnick (Jr., F, Soudan, Minn.) with 12:31 left in the half.

The Dragons answered with their 37-11 run, extending their lead to as large as 20-points twice before taking a 45-27 lead into the halftime break.

BSU’s Heidi Matzke (Sr., G, Red Lake Falls, Minn.) and Samantha Baldwin (Fr., G, St. Thomas, N.D.) helped keep the Beavers within striking distance in the second half, scoring eight and seven points, respectively, in the second frame. Matzke ended the game with a team-high 15 points and Baldwin ended with seven points and three assists.

MSUM pushed the lead to as large as 34 in the second half (75-41) with 11:25 left in the game before taking the 19-point victory (90-71).

Taylor Davis (Fr., F, Crookston, Minn.) and Jamnick also scored in double digits for the Beavers with 12 and 10 points. Jamnick had a team-high five rebounds while Kim Rosecrans (Jr., G, Crosby, Minn.) dished out a career-high four assist. Matzke’s 15 points moved her into eighth on BSU’s all-time scoring list passing Amy Lawson (2004-08). She currently sits with 1,223 points in her career.

The balanced scoring for the Dragons was led by Alison Nash-Gerlach with 26 points, Angie Jetvig with 18 points and Katie Walden with 15 points to round out MSUM’s double digit scoring. Nash-Gerlach was 12-of-16 from the floor while Walden shot 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

The Dragons made 36-of-67 (.537) shots, including 24 points in the paint for their post players to help keep the pressure on the Beaver offense all night.

BSU’s offense made just 22-of-57 (.386) and was outrebounded 37-34.

Bemidji State’s (2-21; 0-16 NSIC) losing streak reached 19 games with the loss, while MSUM improved their record to 18-5 overall and 11-5 in the NSIC.

The Beavers will be back in action tomorrow evening when they host the University of Minnesota, Crookston in a NSIC battle. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. from the BSU Gymnasium.

Notes: Bemidji State had 12 offensive rebounds compared to just 11 for MSUM...BSU turned the ball over 17 times compared to just 12 for the Dragons...MSUM outscored BSU 42-26 in the paint and 8-4 on the fast break...BSU outscored MSUM 14-12 on second chance points and 38-32 in points off the bench.

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

--beavers--