DULUTH, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Basketball team put together a 22-point fourth quarter but couldn't overcome the strong first half that Minnesota Duluth built as the Bulldogs claimed the 71-51 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win on Saturday afternoon at Romano Gym.
Bemidji State (3-15, 0-14 NSIC) held the 32-28 edge in the second half, but Minnesota Duluth (12-6, 9-5 NSIC) used a 43-19 first half advantage to claim the win.
After Minnesota Duluth moved out to the early 8-3 lead, Isabel Majewski hit a three-pointer and Amme Sheforgen answered a basket by the Bulldogs with a three-pointer of her own to leave UMD with the 10-9 lead.
UMD closed the first quarter on a 14-2 run for the 24-11 lead. Points by Alyssa Hill and Ella Giorgi midway through the second quarter had the Beavers back to within 14, but Minnesota Duluth held the 19-8 advantage in the second quarter to take the 43-19 lead into halftime.
BSU then kept it close in the third quarter behind points from Majewski, Rachel Koenig, Alayna Suprenand, Hill and Sheforgen as the Bulldogs held the slight 11-10 edge in the third quarter.
Bemidji State then collected 22 points in the final frame to win the fourth quarter. Majewski led the scoring in the final 10 minutes with six points on a pair of three-pointers. Ashlynne Guenther and Suprenand each added five points.
Majewski led the Beavers with 11 points, going 3-6 from the field and 3-5 from three. Hill and Koenig had eight points apiece. Hill added four rebounds and a block. Koenig went 6-6 from the foul line. Suprenand tallied seven points, going 3-4 from the field and had a pair of steals.
Bemidji State went 17-58 (29.3) from the field, 6-18 (33.3) from three and 11-12 (91.7) at the foul line. Minnesota Duluth went 30-58 (51.7) from the field, 5-16 (31.3) from three and 6-8 (75) at the foul line. The Beavers held the edge in second chance points (11-6) and in bench points (24-20).
BSU continues the road trip playing at Minot State this coming Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m. Bemidji State will then host MSU Moorhead next Saturday (Feb. 3) at 1 p.m.
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).
