FAYETTE, Iowa. – The Bemidji State University women's basketball team fell in its first game off the weekend 69-82 at Upper Iowa University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Friday night in Fayette, Iowa. The Beavers (4-9, 1-8 NSIC) had trouble containing the Peacocks (6-8, 2-7 NSIC) who were the first team to shoot 50% or higher against BSU since Feb. 7, 2020.
 
Bemidji State after going 12-for-18 (66.7%) in the first quarter only made 15 more baskets in the following three quarters ending the night 27-for-68 (39.7%) from the field, 3-for-17 from three and 12-for-16 from the free throw line. UIU went 31-for-62 (50.0%) from the field, the first time since Concordia University-St. Paul on Feb. 7, 2020 that a team shot 50% or better against the Beavers. 
  
Upper Iowa started fast with a made three pointer by Brook Evenson in the first 11 seconds. The Beavers played with the Peacocks in the first quarter, even taking a 21-18 lead at one point from a Trinity Yoder layup. In the second quarter UIU fell into a grove and pulled away from BSU who struggled to convert on its shots. Upper Iowa went into half time up 48-35. The Beavers went 3-for-14 from the field in the second quarter only 21.4% compared to their 12-for-18 (66.7%) in the first quarter. The Peacocks started the second half the same way they started game with an Evenson three pointer 20 seconds in. The Beavers continued their struggles coming out of the half but found more succuss as the quarter went on shooting 7-for-20. Starting the final quarter Sam Pogatchnik scored the first bucket on an and one, the first quarter BSU scored first. Despite trailing by 21 in the final quarter Bemidji State was forcing turnovers and didn't allow the Peacocks to score for the first two and a half minutes. The Beavers were able to cut the lead to 13 to end the game 82-69. 
  
Bemidji State was led by fifth-year senior Yoder and sophomore Pogatchnik with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Yoder went 7-for-15 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line inching closer to the most made free throws in BSU history of 382 with her 346th. Pogatchnik went 6-for-11 from the field, 2-for-5 from deep and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe. Yoder also led the Beavers with three assists.
   
Both teams had a presence on their own glass with BSU snagging 11 offensive rebounds and UIU had eight. Pogatchnik led the Beavers with seven rebounds six defensive and one on the offensive glass. Alyssa Hill was behind Pogatchnik but had the majority of the offensive rebounds with four of her five rebounds. Pogatchnik and Hill both recorded a block on the night. 
  
The Beavers continue their road action tomorrow as they travel to Winona State University for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off. 
  
For more information on the Bemidji State women's basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com. 
  
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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). 
  
--bsu—