The Winona State University women’s basketball team converted high-percentage shots Saturday night to hand Bemidji State University a 76-66 loss at McCown Gymnasium. The Beavers (3-8, 0-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) were outscored in the paint, 39-24, while the No. 16 Warriors (12-2, 7-1 NSIC) shot 52.7 percent from the field.

Bemidji State finished the game shooting 46.4 percent (26-56) from the field, after entering the game shooting 40.5 percent this season. The Warriors put the Beavers’ defense on its heels as BSU averages 42.7 percent shooting to opponents from the field. Twenty-two second-half points in the paint from Winona State helped hold down Bemidji State after trailing just two points in the third quarter.

Senior guard Aimee Pelzer surpassed her scoring output from the previous game while setting a career high in points against the Warriors. Pelzer, who led BSU in scoring for the third consecutive game, finished with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.

Bemidji State returns to Bemidji, Minn., for a five-game home stand, beginning with a weekend doubleheader against St. Cloud State University at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6 and University of Minnesota Duluth at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7. The Beavers will play their next three games, including hosting the Huskies and Bulldogs, at Sanford Center in Bemidji.