Beaver Fever Friday – Jana Swanson – Womens Basketball

Women’s Basketball aiming for season sweeps of NSU, MSUM on the road

Bemidji State University heads to the road Feb. 11-12 with sights set on season sweeps over Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The Beavers begin the weekend with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off Friday against the Wolves in Aberdeen, S.D., before a 3:30 p.m. tip-off Saturday against the Dragons in Moorhead, Minn., for the Century Trophy.

The Series vs. Northern State

Northern State leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 61-11.
BSU and NSU last met Dec. 11, 2021, a 66-50 win by Bemidji State in Bemidji.
BSU is seeking its first season sweep over NSU since the 1986-87 season.
Northern State leads the series when played in Aberdeen, 34-2.
Bemidji State and Northern State first met Jan. 24, 1986, a 77-74 win by the Wolves.

The Series vs. MSU Moorhead

MSUM leads the all-time series against BSU, 71-42.
The Beavers and Dragons last met Dec. 10, 2021, a 69-68 win by BSU in Bemidji.
BSU and MSUM are playing for the Century Trophy, introduced during the 2016-17 season and given to the team who wins the final regular season meeting in the series. BSU is 1-4 in those games.
With a win, BSU will have its first four-game winning streak in the series since an eight-game winning streak from 1985-88.
Since 1984, MSUM leads the series when played in Moorhead, 30-10.
Bemidji State and MSU Moorhead first met in 1968, a 32-30 win by the Dragons.

BSU earned a weekend sweep during its last games including an 89-61 win over Minot State University and a 66-63 victory over the University of Mary in Bemidji, Minn. Bemidji State completed a season sweep over Minot State and secured a season split with UMary.

Bemidji State trailed Minot State by as many as 11 points in the first half before a 36-33 deficit at halftime. BSU went on to outscore MiSU in the second half, 56-25, while shooting 60 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes. At least six BSU student-athletes totaled double-digit points for the first time since Jan. 17, 2015.

Sophomore center Rachael Heittola led BSU with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds, four assists and one steal. Senior guards Coley Rezabek and Brooklyn Bachmann, and junior guard Maddie Schires each finished with 12 points, including all 12 coming by way of 3-pointers for Schires.

BSU overcame another second-quarter deficit Saturday against UMary, this time of seven points, set up by a three-point deficit at halftime, 34-31. The Marauders held its three-point lead through the first six minutes of the third quarter before a 9-0 run by the Beavers, including five points from Rezabek, gave BSU a lead heading into the fourth quarter. UMary pulled to within two points of BSU multiple times but four Beaver free throws over the final 1:30 sealed the game.

Heittola and senior guard Trinity Yoder each finished with 21 points on eight field goals and five free throws, marking the third time in the last three years the duo has scored at least 20 points in the same game. No BSU duo had recorded 20 points in the same game in the two seasons prior.

Yoder ranks second in the NSIC with 5.3 assists per game and third with 85 free throws made. Heittola ranks second in the league with 6.2 defensive rebounds per game and fourth with 16.1 points per game.

With a win against Northern State, Bemidji State will earn its first season sweep over the Wolves since the 1986-87 season. The winner of Saturday’s game between BSU and MSUM will bring home the Centruy Trophy, introduced during the 2016-17 season and given to the team who wins the final regular season meeting. BSU is 1-4 in those games.