Box Score BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State University used crucial play down the stretch of the second half and a run at the end of the first half to upend the University of Minnesota Crookston 75-66 Friday night at BSU Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles had control early on in the game, leading by 10 points at one point, but Bemidji State was able to control the overall pace of the game for the remainder of Friday night's battle between Highway 2 rivals. The BSU win evens the season series at 1-1 after Minnesota Crookston won at Lysaker Gymnasium Nov. 30 to begin the conference season. UMC falls to 4-6 (1-5 NSIC) and are currently on a five-game losing streak after defeating the Beavers Nov. 30. Bemidji State improves to 6-4 (2-4 NSIC).

The Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 25-of-66 for 37.9 percent and were 7-of-23 from three for 30.4 percent. BSU came into the game wanting to shut down Alexa Thielman (So., G, Buffalo, Minn./Health Science), who had gotten off to a great start to the 2013 season, and they did just that limiting her to seven points and two rebounds on just 2-of-11 from the field and 1-of-6 from three. Thielman came into the game hitting 55.6 percent of her three-pointers.

Katrina Moenkedick (So., F, Perham, Minn./Early Childhood Education) had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds on the game, including 13 points in the first half. Ashley Martell (Jr., G, Somerset, Wis./Health Science) played one of her strongest games of the season, hitting 4-of-7 treys and finishing with 12 points on the game. Cienna Walker (Jr., G, Ajax, Ontario/Marketing) came off the bench for nine points.

Bemidji State was led by Kate Warmack, who tallied her seventh double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 rebounds on 9-of-16 shooting from the field. Sharp shooter Morgan Lee added 17 points, including three three-pointers. Tatum Sheley chipped in 13 points. The Beavers shot 26-of-61 from the field for 42.6 percent and were 5-of-13 for 38.5 percent from three. In addition, they were clutch from the charity stripe, connecting on 18-of-22 on the game and 12-of-14 in the second half.

The Beavers out-rebounded UMC 44-34 on the game led by 17 boards from Warmack, who's brother Jim has signed to play men's basketball with the Golden Eagles.

UMC had control of things early Friday night as they raced out to a 16-4 lead early on behind the dominant play of Moenkedick, who had 11 of the first 16 points. Perkins contributed the other five points to ignite the Golden Eagles early on in the first half.

The Beavers finally made some inroads as they cut the lead to 16-9 using a jumper from Sheley and a lay-in from Warmack. The Golden Eagles would extend their advantage back out to 27-17 aided by four points from Walker.

Bemidji State would again strike to get within two points at 32-30 led by the play of Warmack, who had a near double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds in the first frame. The Beavers would take lead on a Lee trey from the wing with two minutes remaining. Lee would extend the lead using another three from the win to make it 36-32 with just over a minute left in the frame. That would be the score heading into the break.

After being down four at the break, UMC would knot things up at 42-42 with 16:15 remaining following a Thielman trey. The Golden Eagles would take a lead at 44-42 following a Moenkedick lay-in with 14:00 left. Bemidji State would take the lead back for a good following free throws from Lee with 7:29 remaining to make it 54-52 and would not look back as they would out-score UMC 21-14 in the final seven minutes of play.

The Golden Eagles will return to action Jan. 3, 2014 at 4 p.m. as they host Upper Iowa University at Lysaker Gymnasium. Minnesota Crookston will then take on Winona State University Jan. 4 at 4 p.m.

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).