Bemidji, Minn. -- Bemidji State would make 12 threes, including eight from Evyn Eppinga on Saturday afternoon to defeat Minnesota Crookston, 77-68.
Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles season lives on, as they will enter the NSIC tournament as a 12 seed and will head to Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday for the first round.
BSU would score the games first four points, but in a game of runs, the Golden Eagles would score 10 straight with the help of steals from Halle Winjum (Jr., G, Crookston, Minn.) and Riley Jenkins (Sr., G, Galesburg, Ill.).
Minnesota Crookston would later take a 16-11 lead on a basket from Emma Miller (Sr., G, Albertville, Minn.).
The Beavers would go on an 11-0 run near the end of the first quarter, but Rayna Klejeski (Jr., F, Barnum, Minn.) would halt the run with a strong finish inside.
Starting the second quarter, Eppinga would drill a three, but Natalie Mikrot (Sr., G, Willow River, Minn.) would bury two straight threes to cut the lead to one. Miller would cap off the 11-0 run with a left wing three to force a Beaver timeout and take a four point lead.
BSU and Minnesota Crookston would be tied at 39 heading into the halftime break.
The second half would start strong for the Golden Eagles, who would take a three point advantage early on following a Jenkins jumper.
The third quarter would be back-and-forth, but BSU would head into the final 10 minutes with a three point lead.
BSU would once again start the quarter with another three, but Anna Westby (Fr., F, Eveleth, Minn.) and Miller would finish a pair of layups to cut the deficit to just two.
That's when a massive sequence would happen. Miller would force a turnover and then get blocked on her layup attempt, but on the loose ball, BSU appeared to be fighting for the ball while out of bounds, but no whistle was blown and BSU would make a three on the next possession for a five point lead.
Minnesota Crookston would go on a 6-0 run to cut the Beaver lead to just one and they would eventually tie the game on four straight points from Klejeski.
BSU would end the game on a 9-0 run for the nine point win.
Miller led the way with 25 points and six rebounds, while Klejeski added 13 points and six rebounds. Jenkins, returning following a one game hiatus, scored 10 points.
Minnesota Crookston was just 3-19 from long range.
The Golden Eagles will look for some postseason magic on Wednesday when they visit Southwest Minnesota State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament on Wednesday night at 6 PM in Marshall.
