BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- Persistence and scoring runs brought the Bemidji State University women’s basketball team from down by as much as 16 to within two points Friday night against University of Minnesota Crookston in the BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers (5-5, 1-5 NSIC) fell to the Golden Eagles (7-3, 4-2 NSIC) for the second time this season, though, as junior Hanna Zerr scored 16 second half points to keep the team in the game.
Zerr knocked down three 3-point shots in the beginning minutes of the second half to help lead the Beavers’ comeback. BSU totaled eight shots from long-range in the second half, pulling within two points of UMC three times in the final two quarters. The Beavers outscored the Golden Eagles, 47-43, over the final 20 minutes.
After allowing a layup to Katrina Nordick, finishing the night with 30 points for the Golden Eagles, on the first possession of the game, the Beavers reached a 7-4 lead. A 3-pointer from Tatum Sheley and a layup from Allie Knuti gave BSU its largest lead of the night, 12-8, after three and a half minutes of play. The Golden Eagles then went on a stretch to retake the lead for good, closing out the first quarter on a 13-2 run. Bemidji State missed six straight shots and 10 total during the final minutes. UMC finished with 12 points in the paint compared to four for BSU during the first quarter.
The scoring run that closed the opening quarter carried over to the second for UMC while reaching its largest lead of the night. Sierra Senske chipped in two of her 13 points on the night as the Golden Eagles went on a 13-4 run over the first five minutes of the second quarter. After facing a 34-18 deficit with 4:47 remaining in the half, the Beavers began to chip away at the lead and enter halftime trailing, 38-27.
The Beavers began the second half with a spark as Zerr made the first of her 3-pointers on the night. Following two points by each team, Zerr connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to begin an 8-0 run and bring the team within two points, 44-42. Another run by UMC soon followed while forcing BSU to five missed shots. The Golden Eagles reached a double-digit lead again, 53-43, with under one minute to go in the third quarter.
Four minutes into the final quarter, Zerr began another run to bring the Beavers within two points. She hit her final shot from behind the arc in a 10-0 run, while Tatum Sheley added two 3-pointers. A UMC turnover after Sheley’s shot to bring BSU within two gave the team an opportunity to tie or take the lead. The Beavers weren’t able to connect as the Golden Eagles’ defense held strong. UMC made 12 free throws to end the game in the 81-74 loss for BSU.
Sheley led Bemidji State with 24 points, tying a career-high, and eight rebounds, one shy of a career-high. Four Beavers reached double-digit scoring with Zerr at 16, Senske at 13 and Pelzer at 10. Pelzer notched her ninth game in double-figures while starting all 10 games for BSU. The team shot 40.9 percent (27-66) from the field while allowing 49 percent (25-51) to the Golden Eagles. Bemidji State outshot Minnesota Crookston from long-range, 47.8 percent (11-23) to 30.8 percent (4-13), but lost the rebound battle, 39-29.
Bemidji State hits the road following the holiday break while facing Minot State University Jan. 2 in Minot, N.D., and University of Mary Jan. 3 in Bismarck, N.D. The Beavers will face MSU and U-Mary for the first of two season meetings between the programs.
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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