Bemidji State opens four-game homestand against Minnesota State and Winona State
Beavers to play eighth and ninth home games of the season this week
The Bemidji State University Women’s Basketball team returns home to begin a four-game homestand this week facing (RV) Minnesota State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Winona State on Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside the BSU Gym.
Bemidji State (3-9, 0-8 NSIC) was locked in a defensive battle last time out falling just short at Sioux Falls, 48-34. Ella Giorgi set the single game program record for blocks in a game with eight, while the team set a new single game record for blocks in a game with 12. The game before that, Alyssa Hill tied the single game program record for the most field goals made without a miss going 8-8 against Southwest Minnesota State, as the Mustangs held off a rally by BSU for the 86-72 victory.
Head coach Chelsea Stoltenberg is just three wins from moving to fourth on the program wins list, currently at 68. Hill is closing in on 500 career points, currently at 427.
The Beavers opened the season playing five-straight at home and were last inside the BSU Gym on Dec. 19 defeating Valley City State by a score of 67-57. The Beavers are 3-4 at home this season.
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Bemidji State is averaging 59.3 points and allowing 64.9 points. BSU is making 263-679 (38.7) from the field, 53-213 (24.9) from three and 132-199 (66.3) at the foul line. Opponents are making 290-714 (40.6) from the field, 48-193 (24.9) from three and 151-221 (68.3) at the foul line.
Alyssa Hill leads the way averaging 14.3 points and 4.8 rebounds, making over 52 percent (71-135) from the field. She is also connecting on 82.8 percent from the foul line (24-29). Sam Pogatchnik is averaging 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, while adding 23 assists and 13 steals. Amme Sheforgen tallis 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds, along with 26 assists and a team-high 18 steals. Sydney White adds 6.4 points per game. Alayna Suprenand leads the team with 13 three-pointers and 32 assists, while averaging 4.9 points.
Bemidji State leads the NSIC and ranks 15th nationally in three-point percentage on defense (24.9), which ranks 15th nationally. BSU is now up to 32nd nationally in blocks per game at 4.4. Hill is fourth in the NSIC and 45th nationally in field goal percentage (52.6), eighth in the NSIC in points per game (14.3) and 10th in the NSIC in field goals (71). Suprenand is seventh in the NSIC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.88).
BSU will face Minnesota State first on Friday night. The Mavericks are 10-4 overall and 7-1 in NSIC play, going 5-3 away from home this season and 3-0 in true road contests. Minnesota State is receiving votes in the WBCA National Poll this week. Following a 75-64 loss to Minnesota Duluth back on Nov. 21, Minnesota State has won eight-straight since. The Mavericks played just once last week rolling to the 69-48 home win against Northern State. This will be the first road game for MSU since the 66-48 win at Winona State on Dec. 14.
Minnesota State averages 75.7 points and allows 61.1 points per game. The Mavericks make 404-995 (40.6) from the field, 58-240 (24.2) from three and 194-274 (70.8) at the foul line. Opponents are making 309-769 (40.2) from the field, 75-265 (28.3) from three and 162-234 (69.2) at the foul line.
Joey Batt leads the way averaging 17.6 points and 28 assists while making over 51 percent from the field. Destinee Bursch averages 14.1 points and 44 assists, along with 25 steals. Natalie Bremer adds 13.5 points and 28 steals.
Minnesota State is 33-14 in the series against Bemidji State since 1976, with the Mavericks winning the last two meetings in 2022 and 2023. Last year’s meeting in Bemidji the Mavericks claimed the 90-48 victory. These two teams will close the regular season on Feb. 24 back in Mankato.
BSU will close the week against Winona State on Saturday. The Warriors are 4-9 overall and 3-5 in NSIC play, going 2-5 away from home. Last week, the Warriors played once falling to Northern State, 85-58. Prior to that, Winona State defeated Michigan Tech on Dec. 19, 59-56.
Winona State averages 57 points and allows 64.3 points. Winona State makes 278-722 (38.5) from the field, 75-266 (28.2) from three and 110-171 (64.3) at the foul line. Opponents are making 290-768 (37.8) from the field, 110-330 (33.3) from three and 146-190 (76.8) at the foul line.
Olivia Gamoke is averaging 8.7 points to lead the team. Emma Carpenter is at 8.5 points and leads the team with 17 three-pointers. Ava Sergio tallies 7.5 points, with Alex Dornfeld right behind with 7.4 points.
Bemidji State leads the series against Winona State with a record of 45-37, with the Warriors winning last year’s meeting in Winona, 76-63. Bemidji State won the two meetings before last year’s matchup, both in Bemidji. The two teams will play again on Feb. 23 in Winona.
Entering this week in the NSIC standings, Minnesota State leads the way at 7-1, with Southwest Minnesota State in second at 7-2. Northern State and UMary are tied for third at 6-2, with Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth tied for fifth at 6-3.
Friday’s game against Minnesota State will be a Food Drive. Fans are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food to the game to support Bucky’s Pantry on campus. The first 75 students into the game on Friday will receive BSU swag!