Wednesday, January 30, 2013

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Bemidji State University student-athletes Morgan Lee (G, 5-7, Jr., Hayward, Wis.) and Mason Walters (F, 6-7, Sr., Milton, Wis.) have been named Beaver Pride Athletes of the Week after recording outstanding athletic performances during the week of Jan. 21-27.

Lee posted back-to-back 20-point performances for the BSU women’s basketball team Jan. 25-26, as the Beavers went 1-1 in NSIC play at BSU Gymnasium. She averaged 23.5 points and shot 52.9 percent from the field, 41.2 percent (7-for-17) from 3-point land and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the line. She totaled 25 points, which included five 3-pointers, in a loss to Minnesota State University Moorhead Friday. Saturday, she found her mid-range jumper and went 9-for-13 (69.2%) from the field to post 22 points in a victory against Northern State--a team that had entered the game tied for first in the NSIC North. She went 2-for-4 from 3-point land and added three rebounds, an assist and a steal. On the weekend she averaged 33.5 minutes per game and recorded six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Averaging 14.4 points per game this season, Lee leads the Beavers in scoring, while her 47 3-point field goals made place her second in the NSIC.

Lee’s Beaver Pride Athlete of the Week selection marks first of her senior season, while it is the fifth time a member of the women’s basketball team has been honored by the organization. She follows three-time recipient Lanae Rash (Nov. 7 and 14, Dec. 19) and Kate Warmack (Dec. 5).

Walters averaged 14.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in a 1-1 NSIC home weekend for the BSU men’s basketball team Jan. 25-26. He tied for the team lead in points with 17 Friday and added a career-high 12 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. He shot 42.9 percent and knocked down three 3-pointers in the game to help lift the Beavers to a 76-75 overtime victory versus MSU Moorhead. Walters scored 11 points and added nine rebounds Saturday in a 58-55 loss against Northern State. He shot 41.7 percent from the field and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line on the weekend. His six double-doubles this season ranks tied for second in the NSIC. 

With 12.4 points per game this season, Walters currently sits second on the team in scoring, while his 7.1 rebounds per contest not only lead the team, they also place him sixth in the NSIC.

This week’s award also marks the fifth of the season the BSU men’s basketball team, while it is Walter’s third of 2012-13. In addition to his previous two selections (Dec. 12 and Jan. 16), Walters follows Zach Noreen (Nov. 21 and Dec. 5) and Lance Rongstad (Jan. 23).

The 9-9 (7-7 NSIC) BSU men’s basketball team sets its sights on climbing over the .500 mark this weekend as it hosts Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Sioux Falls. The Beavers face the Mustangs Friday at 8 p.m. and the Cougars Saturday at 6 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium.

The Bemidji State women’s basketball team, which is 8-10 overall and 4-10 in league play, hosts Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls this weekend at BSU Gymnasium. The NSIC weekend gets underway versus the Mustangs at 6 p.m. Friday with a 4 p.m. opening tip versus the Cougars set for Saturday.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--