MARSHALL, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Women's Basketball team connected on a season-high 49.1 percent from the field but weren't able to overcome a strong first half by Southwest Minnesota State as the Mustangs claimed the 86-72 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win Friday night inside the R/A Facility.
Bemidji State (3-8, 0-7 NSIC) shot at least 43 percent in every quarter to finish with a new season-high of 49.1 percent going 28-57 from the field. Twice the Beavers made at least 50 percent in a quarter going 6-12 in the second and then 9-16 in the fourth.
Southwest Minnesota State (8-6, 6-2 NSIC) held off the Beavers thanks to a strong first half outscoring the Beavers by nine in the first quarter and then by seven in the second quarter to hold the 51-35 halftime lead.
BSU used a strong third quarter to get right back into it outscoring the Mustangs 18-10, before SMSU held the 25-19 edge in the final frame for the victory.
An Erin Barrette layup and then a free throw a minute later gave the Beavers their first lead of the game at 11-10. SMSU closed the final minutes of the opening frame strong outscoring BSU 14-4 to take the 24-15 lead.
After the Mustangs had the lead out to 15 in the second quarter, the Beavers got back to within 10 with Sam Pogatchnik hitting three from the line around a layup by Barrette. SMSU closed the half strong to take the 51-35 lead at the break.
Trailing by as much as 17 points early in the third quarter, Bemidji State started to fight back. Ashlynne Guenther and Alyssa Hill combined for points to trim the deficit to 11. Hill, Guenther and Sydney White closed the third quarter with a trio of layups to cut the deficit to eight at 61-53 entering the final frame.
The Mustangs threatened to put the game out of reach jumping ahead by 14 just over two minutes into the fourth quarter, but the Beavers had an answer. Pogatchnik hit a layup and then a three-point-play by Barrette had the Beavers back within single digits at 69-60 with still 5:41 to play.
After SMSU pushed the lead back into double digits, a pair of Hill layups around free throws by the Mustangs held the deficit at eight with 3:12 to play. That would be as close as Bemidji State could get the rest of the way with the Mustangs closing out the win on a 14-8 run for the 86-72 victory.
Hill led the way with 16 points on 8-8 shooting from the field, while adding four rebounds. Pogatchnik added 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Amme Sheforgen tallied 12 points, six rebounds and two assists. Barrette gave the Beavers four in double figures with 11 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Hill's 8-8 mark ties the school record for the most field goals made without a miss. Hill is the first to go 8-8 since 2014 and is the fourth in program history.
Southwest Minnesota State went 31-68 (45.6) from the field, 7-18 (38.9) from three and 17-20 (85) at the foul line. While the Beavers shot well overall from the field, it was a struggle from three-point range going just 1-10 (10). BSU went 15-21 (71.4) at the foul line. BSU held the 52-48 edge on points in the paint.
Bemidji State will now play at Sioux Falls tomorrow beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Cougars defeated St. Cloud State 70-63 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).
