The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team fell to the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits 63-47 on Thursday night at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D. The Beavers and Jackrabbits played back and forth for much of the first half but SDSU used a late first-half run to seperate from BSU and did not look back. The Beavers finish the exhibition season with an 0-2 record after falling in overtime to Jamestown College last week. South Dakota State, an NCAA Division I affiliate and a member of the Summit League, has won their conference title the last two years making two-straight NCAA tournament appearances.
Jill Young paced the Jackrabbits with 11 points. Returning All-Summit League Honorable Mention selection Kristin Rotert added 10 points. Katie Lingle set the tone for South Dakota State on the glass with 10 rebounds including six offensive boards. Lingle added eight points on the night. The Jackrabbits out rebounded the Beavers 44 to 34 in the game with 18 on the offensive glass. SDSU finished the night shooting 24-of-62 from the field (38.7 %)
Freshman Ellie Wessling (F, Winsted, Minn.) shot four-of-six from the field on the night and finished with 10 points and six rebounds to lead the Beavers. Senior Anna Hebrink (G, Austin, Minn.) added 10 points on four-of-12 shooting. Hebrink hit the Beavers two three pointers on the night. Freshman Kate Warmack (C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) paced the beavers on the glass with seven rebounds. Warmack had six points in the game. BSU finished Thursday’s game shooting 15 of 48 from the field (31.3 %).
The Beavers started out the second half strong hitting six of their first seven shots from the field but the Jackrabbits did not give as they were able to hold onto their lead and come away with the 63-47 victory.
After a low scoring first half the Jackrabbits went into the locker room with a 26-16 lead. Wessling and Hebrink ( led the Beavers in the first period with six points apiece. Wessling paced BSU on the boards with five first-half rebounds. Warmack added four rebounds in the first half.
South Dakota State was led by Steph Paluch’s six first-half points. Young and Rotert each added five points for the Jackrabbits. Lingle controlled the boards for SDSU with seven rebounds. Jennifer Schuttloffel added five first-half rebounds.
South Dakota State ended the first half on a 7-0 run after BSU was down three (19-16) heading into the final media timeout with 2:52 remaining.
Both teams struggled from the floor in the opening period. Bemidji State connected on five-of-23 shots (21.7 %) while South Dakota State hit nine-of-32 shots (28.1 %). The Jackrabbits controlled the glass in the first half 26 to 17 with 10 offensive rebounds.
BSU will return to the court on Nov. 16 when they open the regular season against Mayville State at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers will start the season with three nonconference matches before their NSIC opener on Dec. 3 against Minnesota State University Moorhead.