Listen to the Archive of the Game Here
The opening and closing quarters decided the Bemidji State University women’s basketball program’s game Friday night at University of Sioux Falls during a 63-43 loss on the road. Freshman Brooklyn Bachmann led the Beavers (4-10, 3-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) in scoring for the seventh time this season with 12 points while freshman center Taylor Bray set career highs in scoring and rebounds.
The hometown Cougars jumped out to a seven-point lead against the Beavers early in the first quarter and continued its fast start through the opening period. USF made its first four field goals to take a 9-2 lead and eventually went up by a first-half high 16 points, 26-10, with just over 40 seconds in the quarter. Bemidji State was only able to make four field goal tries over the first 10 minutes compared to Sioux Falls with 11 on 15 attempts.
Freshman center Taylor Bray pulled down an offensive rebound before recording two second-chance points and sparking a 7-0 run by BSU. The three-minute span allowed the Beavers to get within eight points of the Cougars, 28-20. Bemidji State held Sioux Falls to 2-of-11 shooting in the second quarter but faced a 35-24 deficit at the half.
Bemidji State was able to bring the deficit down to eight points several times in the second half, the final time coming on Bray’s basket to give her seven points and a 49-41 deficit for BSU. The Cougars ended the game on a 14-2 run, though, to secure the Beavers’ fate.
Freshman guard Brooklyn Bachmann led BSU in scoring for the seventh time this season with 14 points. Bray set career highs with seven points and seven rebounds and tied for the team lead in boards with senior guard Mikayla Larson.
Bemidji State shot 28.3 percent (17-60) from the field and 15.4 percent (2-13) from beyond the arc. Sioux Falls went 41.7 percent (25-60) from the floor and 29.4 percent (5-17) from long range. The Beavers gave away 12 turnovers which turned into nine points for USF, but BSU won the rebound margin, 46-35, with 11 second-chance points.
Bemidji State continues its weekend with a trip to Marshall, Minn., to face Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday. The Beavers and Mustangs tip-off at 4 p.m. from R/A Facility.