The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team continues the Highway 2 rivalry versus University of Minnesota Crookston Thursday, Dec. 15 in its final game before the holiday break. One team will earn its first conference win as the Beavers (3-5, 0-4 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) and Golden Eagles (0-8, 0-4 NSIC) tip-off at 5 p.m. from Lysaker Gymnasium.

Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston will face off for the 39th time in the series history, led by the Beavers, 21-17. BSU owned the record early in the series, winning the first six and 11 of the first 14 meetings all-time. UMC has taken control of the series since 2009, winning 10 of the last 14 games.

The Golden Eagles swept the Beavers in the 2015-16 season series with an 80-52 win in Crookston and an 81-74 win in Bemidji. Aimee Pelzer, Sierra Senske, Tatum Sheley and Hanna Zerr all averaged over 10 points per game against UMC last season. Sheley set a previous career high in the second meeting against UMC with 24 points on a current career high five 3-pointers on Dec. 18, 2015.

BSU shot a season-best 42.9 percent on 3-pointers and finished shooting 41.3 percent from the field. Despite having more turnovers than NSU, 10-9, BSU took advantage with 19 points off turnovers compared to 14 for Northern State.