CROOKSTON, Minn. (Lysaker Gymnasium) – The Bemidji State University women's basketball team posted a 58-48 victory at University of Minnesota, Crookston Tuesday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game that snapped a four-game losing streak.
The win brings the Beavers overall record to 7-7 and 3-7 in NSIC play. Junior Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) led the Beavers with 14 points, while junior center Kate Warmack (East Grand Forks, Minn.) totaled 10 points and 10 rebounds to record her second consecutive double-double and fifth double-double of the season. Lee tallied six rebounds, while Rash added 12 points and three rebounds.
Both teams struggled from the field, but Bemidji State had the edge and totaled a field goal percentage of 40.7 percent. UMC shot 23.1 percent from the field and went 5-for-29 (17.2%) from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles pulled in 22 offensive rebounds, but failed to make BSU pay, scoring just 14 second chance points.
The first half started strong for the Beavers with a layup by Warmack in the first 13 seconds of the game. The layup was followed by a 3-pointer from senior guard Shannon Thompson (Rosemount, Minn.) bringing the score 5-0. With 14:42 left in the first Minnesota, Crookston caught up to the Beavers and the score was tied 7-7. A layup put the Golden Eagles in the lead by two points and was soon answered by a bucket from Lanae Rash (G, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.) tying the game once again. The teams were tied two more times after that.
With 9:45 left on the clock, Emily Reichert (G, Fr., Rogers, Minn.) made a two pointer that helped BSU break away from Minnesota, Crookston once and for all, 15-13. A 3-pointer by sophomore Melissa Younblut (G/F, Davenport, Iowa) brings the score to 20-13. Just under five minutes until halftime and Lee made a jumper that solidified the Beaver lead, 24-13. With UMC trailing by 11 points they started stepping up their game and didn’t let the Beavers score for the rest of the first half. The half ended with a BSU lead, 24-21.
The second half started off much like the first, with a quick basket from BSU. A defensive rebound by Jessie Althoff (F, Jr., Becker, Minn.) helped Lee get her first 3-pointer of the game, 29-24. With 13:52 left on the clock the Golden Eagles made a jumper that put them only a point behind the Beavers at 33-32. Two free throws by Rash brought the score to 38-32 giving the Beavers the larger lead.
After almost four minutes without a basket from BSU, senior center Emily Kaus (Eagan, Minn.) made a layup with 6:47 left in the game to hand the road team a 44-39 lead. With 1:40 left, Rash made a layup that gave the Beavers their largest gap from UMC since the first half, 52-44. A foul on Minnesota, Crookston, with 13 seconds left on the clock, gave Youngblut two free throws to end the game 58-48.
The Beavers are back in action this weekend as they travel south to play Winona State University Jan. 18 and Upper Iowa University Jan. 19.
For more information on the Bemidji State women’s basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BemidjiStateWBB or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BemidjiStateWomen’sBasketball or facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.
Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
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