BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- A Bemidji State University women's basketball 14-game losing streak to Northern State University went to the wayside following a 66-50 win Saturday afternoon at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers took advantage of 12 first-half turnovers by the Wolves to score 21 points and improve to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The Beavers outscored the Wolves in the second quarter, 29-11, scoring 15 points off turnovers during the second period. BSU built a 20-point lead at halftime and limited NSU to 32.3 percent shooting from the field. During the first half, sophomore center Rachael Heittola scored 18 points and senior guard Sydney Zerr scored 12 on four 3-pointers.

Following a quick 4-0 run by NSU to start the game, BSU went on its own quick 4-0 run behind an and-one from Heittola to tie the game. Heittola also snapped a 2:41 scoreless streak for the Beavers with five straight points, including her first of two 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Both teams traded leads through the end of the first quarter until Heittola sank her second 3-pointer to hand BSU a 14-12 lead after the first 10 minutes.

Senior guard Trinity Yoder put in a layup to start the second quarter and begin a 7-2 run, including the first of four second-quarter 3-pointers for fellow Zerr, for BSU to grab a 21-14 lead. Both teams traded scores over the next three minutes until Heittola sank another 3-pointer and put a layup in for BSU's first double-digit lead of the game, 30-19. The Beavers closed the second quarter on a 13-4 run, limiting the Wolves to 2-of-8 from the field over the final seven minutes, to take a 20-point, 43-23 lead into halftime.

Bemidji State's focus in the paint continued through the third quarter as all but one of BSU's 15 points came from layups. Heittola and junior forward Taylor Vold chipped in four points each in the quarter while Yoder put in five, including an and-one with 27 seconds in the quarter to take a game-high 26-point lead, 58-32.

Heittola shot 8-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and blocked four shots. Zerr followed in scoring while Yoder finished with 10 points and a team-high seven assists.

Bemidji State shot 46.4 percent from the field (26-56), 34.8 percent from long range (8-23) and totaled 18 assists on its 26 field goals. The Beavers gave away a season-low 12 turnovers compared to 17 for the Wolves.

Bemidji State's calendar year will come to an end Dec. 17-18 with a road trip to face the University of Mary and Minot State University.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).

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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