With 7:51 remaining in regulation, senior Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) went to the free throw line sitting on 999 career points. With her first attempt, she became Bemidji State University women’s basketball’s 16th player in program history to reach the 1,000 career points plateau. Lee totaled 29 points in the game to lift the Beavers to an 85-61 victory versus Western State University Colorado. BSU went 2-0 at the UCCS Classic to improve to 3-0 in 2013.

Entering the season, Lee needed 72 points to reach the mark. She recorded 27 points in the season opener Tuesday, 17 points Friday and needed 28 points to reach the accomplishment tonight. Her 29 points puts her at 1,001 career points and marks her second-best single game performance. Lee went 10-for-17 (58.8%) from the field and 7-of-12 (58.3%) from downtown. She also added eight rebounds and three steals in the game.

Senior center Kate Warmack (East Grand Forks, N.D.) fell one rebound shy of her third straight double-double, as she recorded 15 points and nine rebounds with three steals. Freshman Allison Cordes (G, Roseville, Minn.) came off the bench to add 11 points in 19 minutes.

The Beavers dominated the last 30 minutes of play in the game and overall forced 19 Mountaineer turnovers for 24 points. BSU’s 14 steals marks the second time this season the team has posted 10 or more steals in a game. The Beavers knocked down 11 3-pointers (11-for-28, 39.3%). Last season the team hit 10 or more 3-pointers once.

Western opened a 4-1 lead nearly four minutes into the contest and held an 8-6 advantage with 14:31 left in the first half, as the Beavers struggled to hit shots. The Mountaineer lead went as high as three during the first 10 minutes of play before a senior forward Jessie Althoff (Becker, Minn.) jumper tied the game 15-15 with 9:29 left.

Lee knocked down a 3-pointer with 8:03 showing on the clock to hand BSU the 20-18 lead – a lead it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. She hit another dagger from downtown on the next Beaver possession, then Warmack converted on a jumper to hand BSU a 25-18 advantage.

The Beaver lead dropped as low as two at 26-24 with 4:51 left in the frame, but BSU was able to build it back to seven before settling for a 35-30 halftime lead. Lee had nine at the break, while Warmack added 10 points and five rebounds.

Lee and freshman guard Hanna Zerr (Shakopee, Minn.) got hot after halftime, as Lee scored 10 points (two 3-pointers) and Zerr added six points to lift the Beavers to a 16-2 run during the first 3:14 of the second half. The run guided BSU to a 19-point lead at 51-32.

The lead hovered around 20 for the rest of the second half, getting as high as 27 at 72-45 with 6:52 left to play, before settling on the 24-point victory.

Takeaways

• The Beavers have scored 84 or more points in each game this season to average 84.7 points per contest.

• BSU posted a 4-0 record in nonconference season a year ago and started the season with a 5-0 record.

Next Up

The Beavers conclude nonconference play Nov. 19 at home when they host Finlandia University beginning at 6 p.m.