Beaver Fever Friday – Womens Basketball – Haley Zerr

The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team tips off its first of two final home weekends while welcoming in the top two teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division, Wayne State College and No. 7 Augustana University. The Beavers and Wildcats begin the weekend at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2 followed by the weekend finale at 4 p.m. Saturday against the Vikings.

The Bemidji State and Wayne State series dates back to Feb. 6, 1993 and totals 45 games, led by WSC, 31-14. The Beavers have one win against the Wildcats over the last 10 meetings, while WSC knocked BSU out of the NSIC Tournament last season with an 85-61 win in Wayne, Neb.

Senior center Sierra Senske and sophomore center Sydney Arrington each scored at least 10 points in the final meeting against WSC last season. Senske averaged 11.5 points per game against the Wildcats between the two meetings and led all returners with 5.5 rebounds per game.

Augustana leads the young series against Bemidji State, 13-2, that first began Dec. 10, 1983. After a 77-72 Beavers’ victory in overtime to begin the series, the Vikings have won 14 of the last 15 and five straight. Augie pulled away with an 86-61 win last season in the lone matchup against Bemidji State.

Senske led BSU in scoring against Augie with 12 points, including going 6-for-6 from the free throw line. She also led BSU on the boards with six rebounds, including two offensive. Sophomore guard Erica Gartner came off the bench to score eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.