The Bemidji State University women’s basketball begins the 2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Sanford Health Tournament Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. against Wayne State College. BSU 7-19, 4-18 NSIC) and WSC (21-6, 16-6 NSIC) face-off for the second time this season from Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Neb.

The Bemidji State and Wayne State series dates back to Feb. 6, 1993 and totals 44 games, led by WSC, 30-14. The Beavers have one win against the Wildcats in the last nine meetings, while WSC took the first matchup of 2016-17, 70-65, in Wayne, Neb.

After trailing 26-9 heading into the second quarter, Bemidji State outscored Wayne State, 24-9, in the second to trail just two at halftime. Senior guards Tatum Sheley and Aimee Pelzer led the way in scoring for the Beavers with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Sheley tied a career high 10 rebounds while recording her first double-double of the season.

Wayne State went 2-0 over the weekend and is on a six-game winning streak after sweeping Upper Iowa University and Winona State University. The Wildcats secured its sixth 20-win season in the last eight with a 91-51 win over the Peacocks and finished the weekend with a 67-63 win over the Warriors. Wayne State is now 110-12 at home in Rice Auditorium over the last eight seasons.

Wayne Senior forward Anna Martensen averaged 20.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Maggie Schulte had 24 points and 10 rebounds during Wayne State’s win over Winona State. Schulte became the 19th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. Junior center Paige Ballinger averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Evelyn Knox tied a season-high 10 points against Upper Iowa.