UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO BEMIDJI STATE 87-70

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Women’s Basketball team dropped one to Bemidji State, 87-70, in an NSIC contest at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston. 

FIRST QUARTER –
In the first, UMC would get a basket down low from Nicole Hernandez (R-Jr. Oak Creek, WI) and a three from Hope Dudycha (R-Fr. Austin, MN) to give the Golden Eagles an early 5-3 lead. Riley Jenkins (R-Fr. Galesburg, IL) added a fastbreak layup to give the Golden Eagles a four-point lead. Bemidji State responded with a 16-0 run to bring their lead up to 19-7 late in the first. Jenkins would get a couple of free throws to fall, and Emma Miller (Soph Albertville, MN) hit a three to cut into the Bemidji State lead, but the Beavers led 21-12 after the first. 

SECOND QUARTER –
In the second, Bemidji started off with a three, but Miller answered with a three of her own and a layup while Dyducha hit a pair of free throws to make it 25-19 with Bemidji State still leading. UMC would battle back as Natalie Mikrot (Soph Willow River, MN) drained a three, and Miller added another layup. Rayna Klejeski (Fresh Barnum, MN) came off the bench and added a layup, too, which trimmed the Beavers’s lead down to 30-29. Bemidji State built their lead back up to five before Klejeski added two free throws, and Jenkins got a short ranged shot to fall. Bemidji State got a two-pointer with just under a minute to go, but that was answered by Dudycha, who drilled a three to tie the game at 36 heading into the halftime break. 

THIRD QUARTER –
At the beginning of the third, the teams traded baskets, with Klejeski and Miller getting buckets for UMC. Miller connected from downtown again with a three halfway through the quarter to make it a one-point Beavers lead. Dudycha added a lay-in to give UMC their first lead since early in the first quarter at 49-48. The Beavers used a quick 7-0 run to pull ahead 55-49, but Hernandez knocked down a three to cut their six-point lead in half. Miller hit two free throws to make it 55-54, but Bemidji State scored the final five points of the third to go up 60-54 entering the last quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER –
The two sides traded baskets early in the fourth quarter as the Beavers held their firm lead. Jenkins and Miller both hit threes to keep the Beavers lead in single digits. Bemidji State’s lead grew to 13 before Miller hit two more free throws to make it 75-64. Bemidji State extended their lead up to 17 points with about a minute to go, as UMC wasn’t able to pull within single digits again. Bemidji State would get the road win 87-70. 

UMC drops to 9-14 overall and 6-11 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles travel to Northern State on Saturday. Bemidji State improves to 6-16 on the year and 3-15 in NSIC play. The Beavers will take on Sioux Falls next Friday.