BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -- A double-digit deficit was erased behind strong second-half shooting as the Bemidji State University women's basketball team defeated Minot State University, 89-61, Friday night at BSU Gymnasium. BSU improves to 12-8 overall and 10-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while MiSU moves to 8-13 overall and 6-8 in the NSIC.

BSU faced an 11-point deficit midway through the second quarter before cutting the score to three points at halftime, 36-33. Bemidji State shot 60 percent from the field in the second half to outscore Minot State over the final 20 minutes, 56-25.

Minot State held a three-point lead after the first quarter and extended it to 11, 34-23, after a 10-0 run. With 3:42 before halftime, senior forward Claire Wolhowe hit her only 3-pointer of the game to spark a 10-2 run for BSU to end the first half. BSU's defense held MiSU 0-of-5 from the field, including four missed 3-pointers, heading into halftime.

Baskets from junior guard Coley Rezabek and sophomore center Rachael Heittola started the third quarter before both teams traded leads. BSU's final lead of the night came behind a 7-0 run from Rezabek and senior guard Trinity Yoder. Bemidji State went on to outscore Minot State in the quarter, 26-10, as MiSU went just 3-of-12 from the floor in the period.

BSU featured at least six student-athletes with double-digit scoring for the first time since Jan. 17, 2015. Heittola led BSU with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and one steal. Rezabek, senior guard Brooklyn Bachmann and junior guard Maddie Schires each finished with 12 points, including all 12 coming by way of 3-pointers for Schires.

Bemidji State closes out its weekend at 3:30 p.m. Saturday with tip-off against the University of Mary at BSU Gymnasium.

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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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