Friday, January 18, 2013

WINONA, Minn. (McCown Gymnasium) - The Bemidji State University women’s basketball fell to Winona State University Friday 78-41 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game that brought the Beavers’ overall record to 7-8 and 3-8 in NSIC play. Junior Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) posted 11 points.

BSU shot just 26.9 percent from the field, while Winona State posted a 50.9 percentage. WSU went 12-for-22 (54.5%) from beyond the arc. Senior Emily Kaus (C, Eagan, Minn.) led the team with five rebounds, a category the Beavers struggled in, losing the battle for the boards 47-22.

The first half didn’t start out very well for the Beavers who quickly trailed the Warriors 3-0 in the first two minutes. A layup by WSU was answered by one from Kate Warmack (Jr., C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) with 18 minutes left in the first half bringing the score to 5-2. A 3-pointer by Lee broke the Beavers’ 3:35 scoreless streak and put the road team down 12-5. With 11:31 left on the clock a foul on Winona State gave Lanae Rash (Jr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) two free throws BSU needed to bring the deficit down to single digits, 18-9. Unfortunately this would be the closest the Beavers would get to the Warriors during the first half. Two 3-pointers by Lee wrapped up the first half and the teams went into the locker rooms with a score of 41-20.

Two free throws by Jessie Althoff (Jr., F, Becker, Minn.) started the second half off right for BSU who trailed the Warriors 43-22. With 15:32 left in the game Lee stepped up to the free-throw line and scored two baskets for her team, as the Beavers trailed 48-24. Sophomore guard Allison McKee (New Brighton, Minn.) made her third 3-pointer of her collegiate career with 8:17 left in the game bringing the score to 65-33. A layup by Ellie Wessling (Jr., G/F, Winsted, Minn.) with 3:27 left on clock would be the last BSU ball to see the bottom of the net. Another layup from WSU ended the game 78-41.

Friday, the Beavers travel to Fayette, Iowa to play Upper Iowa University at 6 p.m.

For more information on the Bemidji State women’s basketball program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BemidjiStateWBB or @BSUBeavers), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BemidjiStateWomen’sBasketball or facebook.com/BSUBeavers) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Mulitmedia" 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--