Bemidji State University head women’s basketball coach Mike Curfman has announced the 2013-14 schedule. The nonconference slate features two Division I exhibition games and a trip to Colorado before entering the 22-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule.

“With two Division I exhibition games, a tournament in Colorado and an National Associate of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament team in Mayville State University as part of our nonconference schedule, it will help us prepare for the challenging NSIC schedule that looks as strong as ever,” Curfman said. “We are looking forward to getting started with fall workouts and practices.”

The Beavers begin 2013-14 with a pair of Division I exhibition games. Oct. 27 BSU will travel to Brookings, S.D. for a contest against South Dakota State University before making a Nov. 5 jaunt west on Highway 2 to battle University of North Dakota. The Beavers played the Jackrabbits in an exhibition in 2010 and fell by the score of 63-47. Last season, BSU stayed with North Dakota all the way to the end before it lost 76-67.

Sandwiched between two home games is a trip to Colorado Springs, Colo. for two contests at 6,035 feet above sea level. The Beavers host Mayville State Nov. 12 with hopes of extending their seven-game winning streak against the Comets, which includes a 85-77 home victory a season ago. BSU then heads to Colorado to play UC-Colorado Springs Nov. 15 before battling Western State College Nov. 16. The Beavers have never played UC-Colorado Springs and are 2-1 all-time with Western State Colorado University. BSU has played the Mountaineers twice under Curfman, losing 50-46 in 2007 in Pueblo, Colo. and winning 61-57 in 2009 in Phoenix, Ariz. Bemidji State closes nonconference play with Finlandia University Nov. 19 in a home contest that will serve as just the second all-time meeting between the teams.

The 22-game league schedule is split into 14 games against NSIC North Division opponents (one home and one away) and eight contests against NSIC South Division teams. The Beavers will play 11 home games and 11 road games during the NSIC season. All 16 teams will make the NSIC Tournament and will be seeded based on final divisional standings. The first round of the tournament will be held on campus sites, while the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games will be held March 1-4 in Sioux Falls, S.D. at the new Sanford Pentagon facility.

The Beavers begin league play with their travel partner, University of Minnesota Crookston Nov. 30 in Crookston, Minn. BSU swept the season series a year ago with a 58-48 victory on the road and 74-66 win at home.

The following weekend, Dec. 6-7, the Beavers will open conference home play against St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth, respectfully. The Beavers went 0-4 against the Huskies (NSIC North Champion) and Bulldogs last season.

Bemidji State will travel to play Minnesota State University Moorhead Dec. 13 and Northern State University Dec. 14. The Beavers went 0-2 on that road trip as season ago, falling to Northern State by just three, 53-50, before hosting the Wolves later in the season and picking up a 64-57 victory. BSU went 0-2 against the Dragons last season.

A home game against Minnesota Crookston Dec. 21 closes the calendar year for the Beavers and starts the holiday break.

BSU returns to action Jan. 3-4 with home games against Winona State University and Upper Iowa University, respectfully. The Beavers played both teams on the road last season and fell in each contest, but BSU is 5-1 in its last six games against the Peacocks.

The Beavers continue NSIC South play Jan. 10-11 when they travel to Augustana College and Wayne State College to play two of the best teams in the league the last few seasons. BSU went 0-2 in the home series against Augie and WSC last season when both teams were ranked nationally.

BSU hosts MSU Moorhead and Northern State Jan. 17-18 before taking to the road for its longest trip away from Bemidji. The Beavers battle University of Mary Jan. 24 and Minot State University Jan. 25. BSU spilt the season series with U-Mary in 2012-13, which included a buzzer-beater by junior Melissa Youngblut (G/F, Davenport, Iowa) in Bismarck, N.D., and swept the two games against the fellow Beavers.

The road trip concludes with a trek south to play Southwest Minnesota State University Jan. 31 and University of Sioux Falls Feb. 1. BSU hosted the two programs last season and defeated SMSU before falling in overtime to USF.

The four-game roadie is followed by a four-game homestand, as the Beavers welcome Minot State and U-Mary Feb. 7-8 before concluding play against NSIC South teams Feb. 14-15 when Minnesota State University, Mankato and Concordia University, St. Paul visit BSU Gymnasium. MSU and CU finished tops in the south division a season ago and the Beavers found out why in a 0-2 weekend on the road.

The regular season concludes with a road trip to Minnesota Duluth Feb. 21 and St. Cloud State Feb. 22.

The Beavers finished the 2012-13 season with a 11-16 overall mark and a 7-15 conference record to rank seventh in the NSIC North. BSU returns 10 players from a season ago, which includes three starters in seniors Jessie Althoff (F, Becker, Minn.), Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) and Kate Warmack (C, East Grand Forks, N.D.). Curfman enters his ninth season as head coach of the Beavers and currently sits third all-time in wins at Bemidji State with 82 victories.