CROOKSTON, Minn. – Inconsistent play by the Bemidji State University women’s basketball team led to a 91-82 loss to University of Minnesota, Crookston Saturday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game played at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Beavers (12-12, 6-11 NSIC) and Golden Eagles were tied 9-9 with16:16 remaining, then BSU scored 11 unanswered points to take a 20-9 lead in the game and take three minutes off the clock. UMC then scored seven unanswered to cut the deficit to four. The Beavers were able to hold a 3-8 point lead through most of the half, owning a 29-21 lead with 4:08 left in the frame. The Golden Eagles found a rhythm to close the half, going on a 15-6 run to take a one point lead with 48 seconds remaining. Junior Colleen McKay (C, Barnum, Minn.) converted on a lay-up with 33 seconds left to give the lead back to BSU to end the half up one 37-36. Freshman Jessie Althoff (C, Becker, Minn.) scored 14 points in the first half, as BSU shot 45.7 percent from the field.

The game was tied 41-41 with 17:38 remaining, then UMC took a 44-41 lead it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. BSU was able to trade baskets with the home team and erase a six-point deficit with a 7-1 run that tied the game 52-52 with 14:07 left. During the run, McKay score four points and Althoff hit a 3-pointer. The Golden Eagles continued to stay ahead of the Beavers, but McKay and Althoff wouldn’t let UMC get too ahead, scoring all the points for BSU during a six minute span. Sophomore Taylor Davis (F, Crookston, Minn.) gave the two Beaver centers a rest and scored on a lay-up to make the score 61-66 with 8:12 remaining. The home team then put together a 10-2 run that gave them a 13-point lead at 81-68 with 3:56 to go. The Beavers were able to cut the deficit to six at 83-77 with 1:05 remaining off a freshman Katie Pettit (G, Howard Lake, Minn.) 3-pointer. BSU put UMC at the line and they only made one free throw, giving the Beavers a chance to cut down the deficit. BSU wasn’t able to score, putting the Golden Eagles at the line again. Again, UMC only made one and went up eight. Sophomore Samantha Baldwin (G, St. Thomas, N.D.) then knocked-down a 3-point shot with 38 seconds left to cut the home team’s lead to five. BSU fouled and UMC made both free throws to make a three-possession game, out of the reach of the Beavers as they lost by nine.    

Both Althoff and McKay scored career-highs with 21 and 20, respectively. McKay added a team-high eight rebounds. BSU had 26 fouls in the game, sending the Golden Eagles to the line 45 times, with them making 37 of them. BSU outshot UMC 42.7 to 41.8 percent.

BSU hosts Winona State University in its final home game of the season Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. The game will serve as fan appreciation night, senior night for Kim Rosecrans and a WBCA Pink Zone event.  

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