×

Injury-ravaged Beavers can’t take down Bemidji State

Photo courtesy of Sean Arbaut/Minot State athletics Minot State freshman forward Reina Strand (42) drives to the lane during a women's college basketball game Friday at the MSU Dome in Minot.

Minot State was dealt a difficult hand entering Friday’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women’s basketball matchup with Bemidji State at the MSU Dome.

MSU only had eight players available, as Kristal Flowers, Mariah Payne and Diondra Denton — all mainstays in the Minot State rotation — were out with injuries. Being shorthanded showed on the scoreboard, as Bemidji State outscored Minot State 69-36 from the second quarter on en route to a 83-57 victory.

“It was tough,” MSU coach Sheila Green Gerding said. “It gave a lot of our young kids an opportunity to compete and try to show us what they can do and play some good minutes.”

Minot State jumped out to a 21-14 lead after the first quarter, largely due to freshman forward Reina Strand and sophomore guard Kari Clements each scoring eight points in the period.

“We created some really good ball movement in the first quarter,” Strand said. “We set up our pick and roll pretty well and really got what we need. (Friday) in general was pretty tough because we are so young, so not having some of our experienced players out there really hurt us.”

But another scoring drought plagued MSU, as Bemidji State outscored the Beavers 22-9 in the second quarter.

Bemidji State outscored the Beavers 47-27 in the second half to cruise to victory.

Clements was the leading scorer for MSU with 14 points, while Wald had 11 and Strand finished with 10.

“Maddie and Kari were solid for us again and they’re playing a lot of minutes,” Green Gerding said. “You have to give those kids credit because this league is tough. Asking them to play 40 minutes is tough but we’re going to have to ask them to play 80 after (today). But I have all the faith in the world that they’ll step up and be good again against Minnesota Crookston.”

Minot State shot 31.7 percent from the floor and 5-of-20 from long range, while Bemidji State shot 56.9 percent and made 9 of 17 3-pointers.

Aimee Pelzer led Bemidji State with 25 points on a 10 of 16 shooting night, while Tatum Sheley chipped in 14.

The win was Bemidji State’s first on the road this season and first since Jan. 6, 2015.

MSU (3-16, 1-12 NSIC) is back in action at 4 p.m. today against Minnesota Crookston at the MSU Dome.

Garrick Hodge covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @Garrick_Hodge.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today