BEMIDJI - The Bemidji State women’s basketball team ran past the Valley City State Vikings on Saturday, en route to a 77-46 victory.
After trading baskets for much of the first quarter, the Beavers (3-0) were able to use Tatum Sheley and Sierra Senske’s eight points each to jump out to a 22-13 lead after the opening period.
“When we can run and get layups… it just helps everything,” Sheley said. The run-and-gun offense that BSU utilizes resulted in 10 first quarter-points off layups. “We like to run, we like to take smart shots.”
In the second quarter, the Vikings (4-3) got the Beaver lead down to six, but BSU quickly responded. The Beavers closed out the half strong, capped off with a 10-0 run, with four points apiece coming from Senske and Emma Rappe. At halftime, BSU led 47-22.
Valley City State came out of the locker room looking to chip away at the deficit. And after seven straight Viking points, Bemidji State’s lead was down to 16.
But again the Beavers responded. A 12-2 run carried BSU into the fourth quarter, where it held VCSU to six points to deny any final attempt at a comeback.
“Our defense has come a long ways,” said BSU head coach Chelsea DeVille.
DeVille said that the main defensive focus was going to be stopping the scoring of Georgia Williams, a junior guard out of Townsville, Australia, who was averaging 18.3 points-per-game coming into the contest. Williams finished with just three points on 0-7 shooting from the field.
“When we know the scout, we play really well,” Sheley said.
Sara Schwanke led the Vikings with 14 points and Nya Chakin added nine rebounds.
For Bemidji State, Aimee Pelzer ended up leading the team with 17 points after scoring nine in the fourth quarter. Sheley finished with 16 and Senske had 14. Katie Miller reached double-digits in rebounding with 10, while Hanna Zerr led BSU with five assists.
“If someone’s not playing their best one night, we have two, three other scorers that can pick it up,” Sheley said of BSU’s balanced scoring. “It’s huge for us, because then not everyone has to have that awesome night every night.”
“We’re controlling basketball games,” said DeVille. “We’re competing to go into conference play with a little energy and excitement about where our team has come so far.”
Before the Beavers have an opportunity to compete against fellow Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams, they will wrap up their nonconference schedule Tuesday. Bemidji State will square off with Northland College at 6 p.m. in the BSU Gymnasium.
Bemidji State 77, Valley City State 44
VCSU 13 9 18 6 - 46
BSU 22 25 16 14 - 77
VCSU (4-3, 1-0 NSAA) - Connor 6-11 1-1 14; Williams 4-7 0-0 8; Vandal 2-5 2-2 6; Beaver 3-10 0-0 6; Schwanke 0-7 3-3 3; Chakin 1-2 0-0 3; Dixon 1-4 0-0 2; Schlecht 1-3 0-0 2; Lennon,xi 0-3 0-0 0; Bass 0-3 0-0 0; Magnuson 0-0 0-0 0; Huber 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-55 6-6 44.
BSU (3-0, 0-0 NSIC) - Pelzer 7-13 0-0 17; Sheley 6-11 1-1 16; Senske 6-10 2-2 14; Zerr 3-7 2-2 8; Knuti 3-6 1-2 7; Rappe 1-1 3-4 5; Miller 2-5 0-0 4; Cordes 1-5 0-0 2; Durand 1-2 0-0 2; Larson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 31-62 9-11 77.
3-point - VCSU 2-9 (Connor 1-1; Chakin 1-1; Beaver 0-2; Schwanke 0-1; Schlecht 0-2; Lennon 0-1; Bass 0-1), BSU 6-13 (Pelzer 3-5; Sheley 3-5; Zerr 0-1; Cordes 0-1; Larson 0-1). Fouled out - VCSU-None, BSU-None. Rebounds - VCSU 27 (Dixon 9), BSU 42 (Miller 10). Assists - VCSU 11 (Schlecht 3), Bemidji State 16 (Zerr 5). Total fouls - VCSU 10, BSU 10. Technical fouls - None. A-176
* - points scored by the other team (wrong basket)
