BEMIDJI, Minn. – Alyssa Hill put together a big night with a career-high 29 points and added nine rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Minot State was able to build an early first quarter lead and hold off the Bemidji State University Women's Basketball team for the 68-56 win on Friday night inside the BSU Gym in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for BSU.
Hill was solid all game long going 11-14 from the field, added a three-pointer, went a perfect 6-6 from the foul line and grabbed nine rebounds in 28 minutes for her career-high 29 points. Alayna Suprenand added 10 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Bemidji State (2-2, 0-1 NSIC) had early points from Sam Pogatchnik, Hill and Suprenand to trail by only one at 7-6 just over two minutes in.
After a long ball by Suprenand tied the game at nine, Minot State (2-7, 1-1 NSIC) went on a 20-0 run that nearly lasted the remainder of the first quarter. Bemidji State was able to close the final minute of the opening frame with a three by Tieryn Plasch and a foul shot by Suprenand to leave Minot State with the 29-13 lead after the first 10 minutes.
Minot State carried that momentum right into the second quarter pushing the lead out to 41-15 with an early 11-2 run over the first four minutes of the second. Bemidji State answered with a 9-0 run as Hill accounted for all nine points during the stretch that had BSU back to within 17 at 41-24.
The teams traded baskets the remainder of the half with Minot State holding the 44-26 advantage at the break.
Bemidji State kept fighting and had the deficit down to 13 late in the third quarter. Suprenand, Rachel Koenig and Plasch all had points to trim the MSU lead to 53-40. Minot State outscored BSU by one the rest of the third quarter to take the 56-42 lead to the final frame.
Trailing by 17, Bemidji State made one last push. An Amme Sheforgen layup helped ignite an 8-0 run. Sheforgen added another layup and after two free throws by Hill, Suprenand turned a steal into a quick transition layup that had BSU within nine at 61-52 with still 3:27 to play.
Minot State regrouped and was able to outscore BSU by three the rest of the way to claim the 68-56 victory.
Bemidji State went 21-48 (43.8) from the field, 5-18 (27.8) from three and 9-14 (64.3) at the foul line. Minot State went 25-56 (44.6) from the field, 5-14 (35.7) from three and 13-17 (76.5) at the foul line. BSU held the 13-8 edge on second chance points and a slight 32-30 advantage on points in the paint.
Bemidji State will now host Minnesota Crookston on Saturday night starting at 5:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym. The Golden Eagles lost by a score of 72-51 at St. Cloud State on Friday night.
For more information on the Bemidji State Women's basketball program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversWBB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversWBB).
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).
