BEMIDJI STATE EDGES UMC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 79-77

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, and Bemidji State won 79-77 in a Northern Sun Conference game played at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston. 

FIRST QUARTER 
Bemidji State started the game with a three-pointer to spark a 6-1 run to start the game.  UMC settled in and responded with an 8-2 run behind a Haylee Wheeler (Fresh. Lakeville) three-pointer, a couple of Mary Burke (Soph. Virginia) free throws, and an Alyssa Peterson (Soph. Menahga) for a 9-8 lead with 6:33 left in the quarter.  “That was a great run for us, and Haylee got us going,” said Coach Mike Roysland. “That three-pointer seemed to loosen us up on the offensive end.”
The teams were tied at 11, 13, 15, and 17 before Bemidji State ended the quarter on a 7-0 run in the final two minutes for a 24-17 lead at the end of the quarter. 

SECOND QUARTER
Bemidji State carried the momentum from the first quarter into the second quarter as they build a 29-18 lead 92 seconds into the quarter.  UMC settled down and picked up their play that started with a basket from Bren Fox (Jr. Norwood Young America) that sparked a 14-2 run to tie the game at 31 with over four minutes to go.  Bemidji State ended the quarter strong and took a 41-35 into halftime. “We played well offensively and had some nice plays, but we couldn’t find a way to stop them in the post,” said Coach Roysland. “It was a pretty good half outside of a minute or two.”

THIRD QUARTER
Whatever Coach Mike Roysland told his team at halftime worked because UMC came out and dominated the first three minutes of the quarter and went on an 11-4 run for a 46-45 lead over three minutes into the quarter. The lead changed hands changed three times over the next minute, but Bemidji State pulled away for a 64-59 lead at the end of the quarter. “Bemidji can hurt you inside or outside,” said Coach Roysland. “When you have the post presence they have makes it hard to stop them, but I thought we did a pretty good job.”

FOURTH QUARTER
UMC started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run with a Julia Peplinski three-point play, a Mary Burke three-pointer, and a Post free throw for a 66-64 lead.  “Julia played a great game for us tonight,” said Coach Roysland. “It might have been her best game for us so far.”
Bemidji State battled back to tie the game at 70 halfway through the quarter, and they build a 78-74 lead with 63 seconds left in the game.  Crookston answered with a big three-pointer from Burke to get within a 78-77 deficit with 41 seconds remaining.  Bemidji State made a free throw with one second left and purposely missed the second free throw, and UMC grabbed the rebound with point-nine seconds left and called a time out.  UMC inbounded the ball to Burke, who shot a three-pointer from the corner and missed off the front of the rim, and Bemidji State held on for a 79-77 victory. “Mary’s shot was right on the line but came up a little bit short.  We had a chance at it,” said Coach Roysland. “We played well tonight, but Bemidji State played a little better.  It was a good game, and we just came up a little short.”

UMC drops to 3-12 overall and 3-10 in the NSIC North.  Bemidji State improves to 8-5 overall and 7-4 in the NSIC.  UMC will wrap up the season, and Bemidji State will wrap up the regular season with a game at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Crookston.

[embeddoc url=”https://kroxam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/UMCWBBvsBSU1.pdf”]