BOX SCORE

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State (6-17, 3-16 NSIC) rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half to down Southwest Minnesota State (7-17, 6-14 NSIC) 68-58 tonight in Bemidji. Anna Hebrink paced all players with 19 points hitting 4 of 5 3-pointers to lead the Beavers over the Mustangs.

Tori Fink was the top scorer for SMSU finishing with 16 points on 5 of 12 shooting, going 3 of 6 from behind the arc. Fink now has 996 career points at SMSU, needing just four points to become the 17th member of the 1,000 point club at SMSU.

SMSU freshman Bree Holleman drilled a career-high four 3-pointers for a career-high 14 points for the Mustangs. Holleman was 4 of 6 from long range tonight.

Lucia Puchelova also finished in double-digits for SMSU finishing with 10 points and six rebounds. Laura Kramer led SMSU on the boards finishing with nine rebounds and two points.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 4-0 lead on baskets by Puchelova and Kramer but the Beavers would force four SMSU turnovers and take a 5-4 lead after Anna Hebrink drilled a 3-pointer.

SMSU turned the ball over nine times in the first 10 minutes of the game, but trailed by one 13-12 at the media timeout in the first half. Hebrink was on fire for the Beavers in the first half shooting 5 of 6 from the floor for 13 points. She was 3 of 4 from the 3-point line for the Beavers in the first half.

Bemidji State was 12 of 23 shooting in the first half shooting 52.2 percent from the floor. The Beavers were 5 of 9 from 3-point range shooting 55.6 percent from behind the arc.

Southwest Minnesota State did not attempt a free throw until less than one second left on the clock in the first half. With the score 30-28 in BSU's favor, Kramer stepped to the free throw line and missed both shots. Kramer is a 64 percent free throw shooter on the season.

SMSU was led in scoring in the first half by freshman Holleman who drained three 3-pointers adding nine points. Fink was 2 of 5 from the floor, hitting two 3-pointers in the first half.

SMSU came out of halftime to tie the score at 30 on a basket by Kenealy. The two teams would trade baskets and take an eventual four-point lead after a jump shot by Fink at 38-34. Colleen McKay would answer on the next possession driving the lane getting the basket and the foul. McKay completed the 3-point play to bring the score to within one at 38-37 SMSU.

On SMSU's next possession Kenealy would have an opportunity for a 3-point play after driving to the basket and getting the foul. Her shot would fall but she failed to make the free throw giving the Mustangs a 40-37 lead.

Hebrink would continue to hit shots from long range for the Beavers helping Bemidji State eat away at SMSU's lead. Hannah Beeler picked up her first points of the night hitting two free throws to tie the game at 54 after the Beavers took a quick two-point lead.

Fink hit a 3-pointer with 2:41 remaining in the game to give SMSU a 60-57 lead. The Beavers walked down the court and hit a basket to make it 60-59. Bemidji Stat then stole SMSU's in-bound pass but missed a layup and fouled Fink in the process. She hit both her free throws to give SMSU a 3-point lead at 62-59.

Fink missed a layup with 36 seconds remaining in the game and Kenealy had the rebound ripped right out of her hands and Shannon Thompson went on a fast break and got the lay in and the foul giving the Beavers a 64-62 lead.

Fink would then miss a 3-point attempt with 23 seconds remaining and the Mustangs would foul after the rebound sending Thompson back to the line. Thompson hit both free throws before Holleman drilled a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in the game to make the score 66-64 in favor of Bemidji State.

SMSU was forced to foul and Morgan Lee hit two free throws to give Bemidji State a 3-point 68-65 lead with 14 seconds remaining. Amber Peterson would miss a long 3-point shot as time expired.

Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play tomorrow afternoon taking on Minnesota Duluth beginning at 4 p.m. in Duluth, Minn.