The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team returns to its regular Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference weekend schedule with a road trip to face University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University. The Beavers open the weekend at 5:30 p.m. Friday against the Bulldogs in Duluth, Minn., before tipping off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday against the Huskies in St. Cloud, Minn.
Minnesota Duluth leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 73-30. UMD has won four consecutive games in the series and 21 of the last 22, with BSU’s most recent win coming on Jan. 7, 2017 in Bemidji, 60-57. Junior guard Brooklyn Bachmann and sophomore guard Trinity Myer combined to score nearly half of BSU’s points during the final regular season game last season as the Bulldogs took down the Beavers, 68-47.
The series began in 1968, a win by Bemidji State. The Beavers won 13 consecutive games between 1971 and 1977.
St. Cloud State leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 42-17. SCSU has won four straight in the series with BSU’s most recent win coming on Dec. 2, 2017, 52-51. The Beavers were knocked out of the 2019-20 NSIC Tournament last season following an 85-57 loss to the Huskies. During three games last season, Bachmann and junior center Taylor Bray each averaged double-digit scoring. Bachmann led BSU against SCSU with 10.6 points per game while Bray scored 10.6 points per game. Bachmann scored at least 11 points in all three games, including 16 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the free throw line with seven rebounds in a 69-47 loss at St. Cloud State.
The series began in 1969, a win by Bemidji State. The Beavers won five of the first six games of the series.
Bemidji State began a winning streak with a 79-57 win to seal a season-series sweep over University of Minnesota Crookston before the holiday break. The season sweep was the first for BSU over UMC since the 2012-13 season. The Beavers dealt a commanding presence in the paint with 52 points in the lane while shooting 53.3 percent overall from the field. Despite being outrebounded, 41-37, Bemidji State turned 15 Minnesota Crookston turnovers into 17 points while giving away 10 turnovers. Four Beavers scored in double-figures, including three 13-point games from junior guard Brooklyn Bachmann, sophomore guard Trinity Myer and freshman center Rachael Heittola. Junior center Taylor Bray scored 12 points in 13 minutes on the court, shooting 6-of-7 from the floor with five rebounds. Myer led the team with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals while Heittola totaled six rebounds, two assists and one block off the bench.
Bemidji State leads the NSIC and ranks 47th nationally with a .270 3-point defense percentage. BSU also ranks among the top 50 nationally in fewest turnovers per game (48th/14.3).
Along with its 3-point defense, BSU ranks among the best in the conference allowing 37.3 percent shooting to its opponents from the floor. The Beavers rank fifth in the league allowing 62.5 points per game and seventh allowing 36.1 rebounds per game. On the offensive side, Bemidji State ranks fifth shooting 43.2 percent from the field and seventh shooting 34.6 percent from 3-point range.
Myer ranks 10th in the NSIC with 14.0 points per game, fourth shooting 52.0 percent from the field, fourth with 3.8 assists per game, tied for 12th with 1.5 steals per game and 16th with 6.3 rebounds per game
Sophomore forward Claire Wolhowe leads the conference and ranks 32nd in the nation shooting 44.9 percent from 3-point range.