BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Basketball team came out on fire scoring the first six points against Augustana. The Vikings recovered to hold an 11-point halftime lead on their way to claiming the 70-60 victory over the Beavers Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
It was a great start for Bemidji State (3-12, 0-11 NSIC) with Alyssa Hill scoring just 21 seconds in. Erin Barrette and Sam Pogatchnik added consecutive jumpers to push BSU to the 6-0 lead just over a minute and a half in.
After Augustana (5-11, 4-8 NSIC) came back to tie and take the lead, BSU built the lead back to three at 14-11 with Jana Swanson connecting on back-to-back baskets. The Vikings then closed the first quarter strong going on an 8-0 run to take the 19-14 lead.
The run stretched right into the second quarter with the Vikings scoring the first 11 points of the second stanza to complete a 19-0 run that left them with the 30-14 advantage.
Trailing by 18 before the half, Amme Sheforgen, Tieryn Plasch and Alayna Suprenand helped BSU go on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 37-26 at halftime.
The Beavers made the run stretch right into the second half with Pogatchnik and Barrette hitting baskets over the early minutes of the third quarter for what turned out to be a 11-0 run that left the Vikings ahead by just seven, 37-30.
Bemidji State got as close as five a couple of times on a three by Suprenand and then a jumper by Ashlynne Guenther before an Augustana layup before the end of the quarter left the Vikings in front at 51-44.
Augustana tallied the first five points of the fourth quarter to stretch the lead back to 12. Another long ball by Isabel Majewski had the deficit down to nine with 8:11 to play, but that would be as close as the Beavers could get with Augustana hanging on down the stretch for the 70-60 victory.
Majewski scored a season-high 16 points on 4-9 shooting, including 4-6 from three. Pogatchnik had eight points. Sheforgen and Suprenand each added seven points. Barrette and Hill chipped in six apiece.
Bemidji State went 24-50 (48) from the field, 7-18 (38.9) from three and 5-8 (62.5) at the foul line. Augustana was 26-59 (44.1) from the field, 7-17 (41.2) from three and 11-20 (55) at the foul line. The Vikings were powered by Lauren Sees' 25 points.
BSU held advantages on bench points (17-12) and points in the paint (32-30).
The Beavers will close the four-game homestand hosting Wayne State on Saturday afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats lost a close one at St. Cloud State, 58-52, on Friday.
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).
