BSU to host Minot State, UMary in final full home weekend of 2021-22

Bemidji State University welcomes in Minot State University and the University of Mary to BSU Gymnasium Feb. 4-5 for its final full home weekend of the 2021-22 season. BSU begins the weekend at 5:30 p.m. Friday against MiSU before a 3:30 p.m. tip-off Saturday against UMary.

The Series vs. Minot State

Minot State leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 15-10
The pair of Beaver teams last met Dec. 18, 2021, a 73-62 win by Bemidji State in Minot, N.D.
BSU has won four straight games in the series.
Minot State leads the series when played in Bemidji, 8-5
Bemidji State and Minot State first met Dec. 9, 1988, a 77-74 win by Minot State in Bemidji.

The Series vs. UMary

UMary leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 24-7.
The Beavers and Marauders last met Dec. 17, 2021, a 70-67 win by UMary in Bismarck.
UMary leads the series when played in Bemidji, 11-3.
Bemidji State and UMary first met Nov. 30, 1984, an 80-75 win by BSU.

BSU took a split for the third straight weekend following a 69-64 loss to Augustana University and a 60-51 win over Wayne State College in Bemidji, Minn. The Beavers have won five straight games on Saturdays and fell in three straight played on Fridays.

During the weekend opener against Augustana, Bemidji State jumped ahead to a 22-14 lead after the first quarter and eventually took a game-high 20-point lead, 49-29, with 6:21 to play in the third quarter. The Vikings brought the game to within six points heading into the fourth quarter after the Beavers gave away six turnovers and missed 6-of-8 shots from the field. After leading, 62-60, BSU missed 3-of-4 shots and gave away two turnovers to end the game.

Sophomore center Rachael Heittola recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. It was also her seventh 20-point game of the season, shooting 9-of-20 from the field. Senior guard Trinity Yoder added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, finishing the night seven points shy of 1,000 in her career.

In Saturday’s win, BSU overcame a halftime deficit and outscored WSC in the fourth quarter, 24-9. The Beavers defense held the Wildcats to 3-of-12 shooting from the field and caused eight turnovers over the final 10 minutes. BSU sealed the game with 16 free throws over the final minutes.

Yoder powered BSU’s comeback, tying a career-high 25 points. She was the only Beaver with double-digit scoring and scored 19 points in the second half. Yoder also became the 22nd member of the program’s 1,000-point club early in the third quarter. Yoder sank 10-of-13 free throws in the fourth quarter and tied the BSU single-game record with 19 free throw attempts on the night.

Yoder ranks third in the NSIC with 5.3 assists per game and second with 78 free throws made. Heittola ranks second in the league with 6.2 defensive rebounds per game and fifth with 15.7 points per game.

Senior guard Sydney Zerr started her 105th career game Saturday, surpassing Amy Lawson (2003-08) for most starts in program history, according to available stats.