BEMIDJI -- A bit of a slow start turned out to be nothing that the Bemidji State women’s basketball team couldn’t handle.
Although the Beavers faced an 11-point deficit against Minot State in Friday’s second quarter, BSU outscored the visitors 66-27 the rest of the way for a dominant 89-61 win at the BSU Gymnasium.
Bemidji State poured it on for a 56-25 advantage in the second half. BSU did it by getting six scorers in double figures, the team’s first time accomplishing the feat since January 2015.
The win also gives Bemidji State (12-8, 10-6 NSIC) double-digit conference victories for the first time since 1986-87, which was back when BSU played in the old Northern Sun Conference. Bemidji State has hit a dozen overall wins for the first time since a 12-15 season in 2009-10, as well.
Although MiSU (8-13, 6-8 NSIC) led 19-16 after one quarter and 34-23 midway through the second, that’s when things started to turn. Claire Wolhowe’s 3-pointer sparked a 10-2 BSU run to close the half, which narrowed the margin to 36-33 by the break.
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In the opening moments of the third quarter, Bemidji State added layups from Coley Rezabek and Rachael Heittola for a 37-36 lead. Shortly after came a 24-5 BSU burst that stretched the lead out to 64-46.
The surges didn’t stop there, as Bemidji State tacked on another 10-0 run before it was all said and done. All that added up to a 30-15 fourth quarter in favor of BSU.
Heittola finished with a team-high 19 points for Bemidji State. Brooklyn Bachmann, Maddie Schires and Rezabek all added a dozen to the cause, and Jana Swanson (11) and Trinity Yoder (10) also hit double-digits.
Amber Stevahn finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Minot State.
BSU can officially clinch a playoff spot on Saturday, Feb. 5, by defeating U-Mary. More than that, a win would further cement Bemidji State’s status as the No. 3 seed in the NSIC North Division.
Saturday’s showdown with the Marauders begins at 3:30 p.m. back inside the BSU Gymnasium.
Bemidji State 89, Minot State 61
MiSU 19 17 10 15 -- 61
BSU 16 17 26 30 -- 89
MINOT STATE (8-13, 6-8 NSIC) -- Stevahn 20, Head 14, Delsman 9, Elliott 7, Mogen 4, Wunderlich 3, Chapman 2, Harris 2. Totals: 26-60 FGs, 2-15 3-pt. FGs, 7-10 FTs.
BEMIDJI STATE (12-8, 10-6 NSIC) -- Heittola 19, Bachmann 12, Rezabek 12, Schires 12, Swanson 11, Yoder 10, Zerr 6, Wolhowe 3, Barrette 2, Wenner 2. Totals: 34-61 FGs, 9-22 3-pt. FGs, 12-15 FTs.
