BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- Thursday night's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season opener for Bemidji State University women's basketball came down to the final seconds during a 61-59 loss to the University of Minnesota Duluth at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers outscored the Bulldogs, 17-10, in the fourth quarter but fall to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth traded the first nine scores of the game to span nearly half of the first quarter. Both teams went on a two-minute scoreless streak after the Bulldogs held a 13-9 lead. Three Beavers put in two-point baskets for BSU over the final 3:42 of the quarter, although the Bulldogs scored nine points to take a 22-15 lead into the second.

Sophomore center Rachael Heittola brought BSU back within five points with the quarter's first basket but a 9-4 run by UMD gave the Bulldogs its first double-digit lead of the night. Following another layup by Heittola, both teams went on another scoreless streak of nearly three minutes before guard Maddie Schires hit her first 3-pointer of the night. The juniors shot from deep cut the UMD lead to just five, 31-26, with 2:52 in the half. UMD answered with a 3-pointer of its own and scored five of the final eight points of the quarter for a 36-29 lead at halftime.

Following a driving layup by senior guard Brooklyn Bachmann to start the third quarter, Heittola took over with seven of the games next 11 points. A 3-pointer by Heittola to end a 9-4 BSU run brought the Beavers within two points of the Bulldogs, 40-38, midway through the third quarter. BSU was held scoreless over the next three minutes, which allowed UMD to regain its double-digit advantage. Bachmann capped the quarter off with back-to-back layups to cut the deficit to nine, 51-42.

Heittola came out with another 3-pointer to start the final 10 minutes and answered a UMD free throw with a layup to bring BSU within five again, 52-47, with 7:35 to play. The Beavers' defense came alive to hold the Bulldogs to just one field goal over an eight-minute stretch to start the fourth quarter. The defensive effort allowed BSU to go on a 12-3 run and tie the game, 54-54, as senior guard Trinity Yoder made a nice assist to Bachmann for the game-tying layup.

Following a layup by UMD, senior guard Sydney Zerr came down to hit a 3-pointer from Yoder for BSU's first lead since early in the game. The Bulldogs came back on the next possession with a 3-pointer to regain the lead, 59-57. Bachman sank two free throws to tie the game with 1:03 to play while a steal from Yoder gave BSU the ball with 43 seconds to go. UMD rebounded a missed BSU layup, set up a play with seven seconds to go and scored the game-winning bucket with two seconds left.

Bemidji State shot 46 percent from the field (22-48) compared to 43 percent (23-53) for Minnesota Duluth while both teams converted five 3-pointers and 10 free throws. The Beavers won the rebound margin, 31-26, led by Heittola with seven boards. She also led BSU in scoring with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, while Bachmann followed with 13 points and Yoder added 11.

Bemidji State continues its weekend with a trip to face St. Cloud State University at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4 in St. Cloud, Minn.

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