BSU Women’s Basketball to host UMary on Thursday, travel to St. Cloud State on Saturday this week
The Bemidji State University Women’s Basketball team will host the University of Mary this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. before closing the week on the road at St. Cloud State on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m.
Bemidji State (2-5, 0-4 NSIC) played at MSU Moorhead and Northern State this past weekend. The Beavers made a push in the second half at Northern State before the Wolves were able to pull away. MSU Moorhead used a strong first and third quarters to get the win on Friday.
BSU enters the week averaging 61 points and allowing 65.1 points. The Beavers make 158-408 (38.7) from the field, 39-140 (27.9) from three and 72-119 (60.5) at the foul line. Opponents are making 173-422 (41) from the field, 28-115 (24.3) from three and 82-123 (66.7) at the foul line.
Alyssa Hill leads the team in points per game (15.4), rebounds per game (5.0), field goals made (42) and shooting percentage (53.8). She’s tied for the team lead in free throws made (19). Sam Pogatchnik is now up to second on the team in scoring at eight points per game. She adds 4.4 rebounds and leads the team with six blocks. Alayna Suprenand is third on the team averaging 7.1 points and leads the team with 26 assists. Sydney White is fourth on the team averaging 6.7 points per game.
Bemidji State continues to lead the NSIC in three-point percentage on defense (24.3) which ranks 31st nationally. The Beavers are fourth in the conference in assists per game (12.9).
Individually, Hill is third in the NSIC in field goal percentage (53.8), sixth in free throw percentage (82.6) and seventh in points per game (15.4). Suprenand is fourth in the NSIC in assists per game (3.7) and seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.17).
UMary is 5-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference on the season. They will host St. Cloud State on Tuesday before facing the Beavers. The Marauders have won three straight all conference games defeating MSU Moorhead, Minnesota Crookston and Minot State.
UMary is averaging 67.5 points and allowing 68.3 points per game. The Marauders are making 221-589 (37.5) from the field, 64-190 (33.7) from three and 169-215 (78.6) at the foul line. Opponents are making 228-579 (39.4) from the field, 66-172 (38.4) from three and 161-213 (75.6) at the foul line.
Lexie Schneider averages 20.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, along with 21 assists while shooting 52 percent from the field. Mariah McKeever averages 13.2 points and a team-high 24 assists. Megan Zander is third in scoring at 10.3 points per game and adds 5.3 rebounds.
UMary holds the 25-8 series record since 1984 and have won the last two meetings. The Marauders are 12-3 during that span in Bemidji. The most recent matchup this past February in Bismarck was a defensive battle won by UMary, 48-39. Before UMary has won the past two meetings, the Beavers had won three of four with two of those victories coming in Bismarck. This will be the only meeting between the teams this season.
To close the week, Bemidji State will travel to St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies are 5-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. They will play UMary on Tuesday and then be off until Saturday.
St. Cloud State has lost their last two games in overtime at Northern State and then a nine-point loss at MSU Moorhead. The Huskies are averaging 67 points and allowing 58.3 points per game. SCSU makes 192-465 (41.3) from the field, 56-148 (37.8) from three and 96-146 (65.8) at the foul line. Opponents are 168-454 (37) from the field, 41-144 (28.5) from three and 89-114 (78.1) at the foul line.
Jada Eggebrecht leads the team averaging 13.4 points per game. Jasmine Litt is at 11.1 points, while Morgan Draheim tallies 10.1 points and leads the team with 23 assists and 13 steals. Ashley Sawicki leads the team in rebounding at 7.1 per game.
St. Cloud State is 49-19 in the series since 1969, but the Beavers won the most recent meeting. BSU is 2-23 at St. Cloud State during that time. The most recent meeting this past February saw Bemidji State win in overtime by a score of 81-77. The last win in St. Cloud was during the 1993-94 season. This will be the only meeting between the teams this season.
After this week, Bemidji State will play one more time before the winter break hosting Valley City State on Tuesday, Dec. 19 starting at 5:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym.