WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: MSU pulls away in second half for 69-59 win over BSU
MANKATO – The Bemidji State women opened their tough weekend on the road with a 69-59 loss to Minnesota State Friday in Mankato.
Although the Beavers (10-11, 4-11 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) trailed just 31-27 at halftime, the Mavericks (15-4, 11-5 NSIC) scored the first nine points of the second half to establish a 40-27 lead after just three minutes of play in the second half and were able to hold on for the victory.
BSU’s Kate Warmack led all scorers with 19 points on 9-13 shooting. She also pulled down 12 rebounds to give her a double-double.
MSU’s Karlee Gengenbacher tied for a team-high 13 points and made three shots from behind the arc.
The Mavericks took an early 8-2 lead with a three pointer from Gengenbacher after less than two minutes of play.
Shortly after, the Beavers answered with a 10-0 run to build their largest lead of the game at 18-12 with 12:45 remaining in the first half.
MSU’s drought without a field goal lasted nearly seven minutes, but its defense kept the score close. Alli Hoefer’s three-pointer ended the drought and tied the game at 18 with 8:45 left in the half.
The Mavericks offense picked up the pace over the next eight minutes and took a 31-27 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Kate Warmack and Lanae Rash combined for seven consecutive points to cut the Maverick lead to six points at 40-34 with 15:19 remaining in the game.
After halftime, the Beavers were able to stay within single digits for the first eight minutes despite MSU’s early run.
But Aubrey Davis and Gengenbacher delivered consecutive three-pointers to increase the Maverick lead to 12 points at 58-46 with 7:12 left to play.
A three-pointer from BSU’s Morgan Lee with 3:34 left to play cut the deficit back down to seven points at 62-55, but that is the closest that BSU would get.
Lee was one of three Beavers to finish in double figures, with 11 points.
The Beavers will look to bounce back tonight when it plays at Concordia- St. Paul at 4 p.m.
Bemidj State (59) – Warmack 19 9-13, Rash 12 6-13, Lee 11 5-15, Kaus 6 2-3 2-4, Althoff 5 1-7 2-2, Reichert 2 0-0 2-2, Youngblut 2 1-2 0-0, Thompson 2 0-5 0-0, McKee 0 0-0 0-0. Wessling 0 0-4 0-0. Totals 59 24-62 9-11.
Minnesota State (69) – Gengenbacher 13 4-9 2-4, Thomas 13 5-6 3-8, Hoefer 12 4-5 3-4, Davis 11 2-5 5-6, Hudnell 8 4-9 0-1, Wilkinson 7 3-9 1-2, Leloux 2 0-3 2-2, Paulson 2 1-2 0-0, Van Klei 1 0-3 1-2, Olson 0 0-3 0-0. Totals 69 23-54 17-29.
