ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul's Amanda Behke scored a career-high 29 points and Katie LaViolette dished out 14 assists Saturday as the Golden Bears handed the Bemidji State University women's basketball team a 90-68 loss in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
The Golden Bears snatched the lead from BSU less than a minute into the game and would never look back extending their lead to as many as 11 in the first half and would use a 26-10 run midway through the second to go up 25 before cruising to the 90-68 victory.
Behke's 29 came on 10-of-17 (.588) from the field and 9-of-13 (.692) from the free-throw line. She also led all players with nine rebounds while recording two assists, a block and a steal. LaViolette, the league's top passer, surpassed her season average of nine assists per tilt, matching a career-high (14). Kelly Lund chipped in 14 points on 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and Candace Olstad rounded out the Golden Bears' top scorers with 10.
The BSU lineup, stretched thin in the post due to early foul trouble, was paced by Heidi Matzke. The sophomore etched 19 points in the book and matched Amy Lawson with a team-best three assists. Lawson also made good on a career-best three triples (3-4) netting 16 points on the night while Nancy McConkey scored 12 despite playing just 26 minutes and finishing the game with four fouls.
McConkey, Colleen Boell and Jenny Wenlund each grabbed five rebounds as BSU held a 40-32 advantage on the glass.
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Stephanie Peterson was held to a season-low two points and two rebounds playing just 13 minutes before fouling out with over eight minutes to go in the game.
Bemidji State got on the board first, but after CSP's Lund drained a three-pointer to steal the lead just 43 seconds in, the Golden Bears would net nine of the next 11 points to extend its lead to eight, 12-4, before five minutes had run off the clock.
BSU would trim the deficit to three, 18-15, on a Lawson three-pointer 90 seconds later but when a Melissa Roberts would bring the Beavers to within a point, 21-20, with just over nine minutes to play in the first half, the Golden Bears would go on a 9-0 to build a 10-point lead with 5:46 left before the break.
When the halftime horn sounded to send the teams to the locker rooms, CSP left the floor grasping a 42-32 advantage.
As the second half got underway, BSU would keep the Golden Bears within striking distance.
Kate Bremmer reeled CSP to within nine points, 50-41, and 16 minutes to play with one of her two threes on the night. But the Golden Bears would end any BSU comeback hopes during the next 6:26 with a 17-6 run.
CSP used a 15-of-23 (.652) effort in the second half to finished the night 29-of-53 (.547) from the floor, 10-of-18 from outside the thee-point line (.556) and 22-of-29 at the stripe (.759) while for the second consecutive night the Beavers posted a field goal percentage under 36 percent at .358 (24-67). The team was also 9-of-21 from beyond the arc (.429) and 11-for-15 at the free-throw line (.733).
With the win, CSP increases its lead in the all-time series to 17-11 and salvages a split in the season series. BSU captured the first game between the teams this season, 82-74, Dec. 8 at the BSU Gymnasium.
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Bemidji State (11-10; 7-6 NSIC) returns home next Saturday to battle NSIC foe University of Minnesota, Crookston. The contests is set for a 6 p.m. tip off at the BSU Gymnasium.
