WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: BSU off to a hot start for DeVille’s tenure

BEMIDJI - If you include exhibitions, this year’s Bemidji State women’s basketball team has won its first four games of the season for the first time this century. In fact, it’s BSU’s best start since 1974.
None of the players, nor head coach Chelsea DeVille, were alive for 14-2 season.
This year, BSU won two exhibition games over Lakehead University on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 before scoring a program-record 110 points versus Crown College on Nov. 14. And after a 21-point victory against Mayville State on Tuesday, BSU has been on the winning side of the scoreboard in each of its games this year.
“I’m excited about where we’ve come,” DeVille said.
The Beavers rank first in scoring offense among all 16 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference so far this year by averaging 96 points-per-game in its two regular season matchups. But DeVille isn’t satisfied after just a handful of games.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I want our kids to get better every day,” she said.
BSU has its next opportunity to stretch its winning streak against Valley City State at 2 p.m. Saturday in the BSU Gymnasium.
Sierra Senske (19.5 points-per-game), Aimee Pelzer (17), Tatum Sheley (13) and Hanna Zerr (13) are the top Beaver scorers that DeVille will rely on offensively, but it’s not just the fast-paced, run-and-gun offense that DeVille will be looking for from her players.
The defense is also strong. The 52.5 points-per-game that Bemidji State has surrendered is second best in the NSIC so far.
“I do have go-to kids and I need them to be ready to score at different moments,” she said, “but I don’t really care who’s scoring. I care who’s defending and making our team look good.”