歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI -- The Bemidji State women鈥檚 basketball team proved it this weekend: They sure aren鈥檛 afraid.

鈥淥ur big thing is to have no doubt,鈥� head coach Chelsea DeVille said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no one we need to fear. It鈥檚 not fluff. We have everyone back, dang near. 鈥� We鈥檙e a veteran team finally and pretty dang talented.鈥�

The Beavers played like an experienced bunch at the BSU Gymnasium on Sunday, upending Minnesota State 82-76 in overtime for their first win of the season.

鈥淚 definitely think it鈥檚 a statement,鈥� junior guard Trinity Myer said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e No. 1 in the South, and we鈥檙e ranked lower on our side of the conference. It made a statement in saying, 鈥楬ey, we don鈥檛 back down.鈥欌��

In years past, a close game like this followed a similar script for Bemidji State: play as well as the opponent early on, feel some pressure in crunch time and ultimately give way late in the game. Not so on Sunday.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to win the close ones, and then that gives you confidence going forward,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been there before, but many times in the last couple years, we鈥檝e been a possession, a shot (short of winning). Against a great team, seeing a win instead of another 鈥榤oral victory鈥� type of emotion, it鈥檚 huge for us.鈥�

Myer made two free throws in the final minute of regulation to tie things up at 69-69. Two shots at the buzzer -- which both clanked off the rim -- became MSU鈥檚 best shot at victory because the Beavers seized the overtime upperhand.

Brooklyn Bachmann dished to Myer for a fast-break, go-ahead layup with 1 minute, 17 seconds left in overtime. The Mavericks tied it back up at 75-all, but BSU won it with free throws by going 7-for-10 at the charity stripe over the final 40.3 seconds.

鈥淒efensively, we picked it up a notch,鈥� Myer said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what really got us rolling from the second half into overtime, as well. I just loved how we played defensively today and yesterday.鈥�

Turnovers were the only thing that could have stopped Bemidji State. They piled up and allowed Minnesota State to run wild for 30 points. The Beavers coughed it up 33 times, tied for the program鈥檚 most since committing 33 turnovers against Augustana in January 2012.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 win very many games with that,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e on the losing end, you say that is why right there. But we won, so that鈥檚 all we have to focus on. We might run for them (in practice), but we鈥檒l focus on the grittiness of finishing the game with a W.鈥�

Although MSU attempted 30 more shots than BSU due to the turnover margin, it didn鈥檛 seem to matter. Bemidji State grabbed a 16-13 lead after a quarter and held within 40-38 by halftime.

An early 13-1 second-half run catapulted the Beavers in front 51-43, only for the Mavericks to assume a 59-56 edge entering the fourth. But the BSU defense locked down and forced overtime by allowing just two points in the final four minutes of regulation.

鈥淒efensively, we picked it up a notch,鈥� said Myer, who drew three charges Sunday and five for the weekend. 鈥淵ou couldn鈥檛 ask for anything more.鈥�

Bemidji State protected the ball late, going the final 7:28 without a turnover. That poise afforded them their first win over Minnesota State since 2012.

鈥淚 knew we could come back because we don鈥檛 give up,鈥� Myer said. 鈥淲e want it more than the other team always. We鈥檙e the underdog, so realistically, we had nothing to lose.鈥�

Myer stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points on 7-for-8 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists. Bachmann went for 19 points and 12 rebounds while also shooting 12-for-12 at the free-throw line. Gabby DuBois (13 points) and Taylor Vold (11) hit double figures, as well.

Joey Batt鈥檚 26 points for the Mavericks led all scorers.

The Beavers move to 1-1 and will begin the conference schedule next weekend against Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Bemidji State 82, Minnesota State 76 (OT)

MSU 13 27 19 10 7 -- 76

BSU 16 22 18 13 13 -- 82

MINNESOTA STATE (1-1) -- Batt 26, Stuttley 13, Olson 7, Shumski 7, Nachazel 6, Tonsfeldt 6, Menster 5, Guidinger 4, Fuller 2, Fett 0, Polson 0. Totals: 28-78 FGs, 15-33 FTs, 76.

BEMIDJI STATE (1-1) -- Myer 23, Bachmann 19, DuBois 13, Vold 11, Bray 7, Rezabek 3, Heittola 2, Majewski 2, Zerr 2, Wenner 0, Wolhowe 0. Totals: 24-48 FGs, 31-43 FTs, 82.

1/5: The Beavers celebrate a call in a game Sunday against Minnesota State at the BSU Gymnasium. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)

2/5: Bemidji State senior Sydney Zerr (20) passes the ball in a game Sunday against Minnesota State at the BSU Gymnasium. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)

3/5: The Beavers celebrate a call from the bench in a game Sunday against Minnesota State at the BSU Gymnasium. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)

4/5: Bemidji State junior Trinity Myer (14) shoots in a game Sunday against Minnesota State at the BSU Gymnasium. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)

5/5: Bemidji State senior Gabby DuBois (23) scores in the second half against Minnesota State on Sunday at the BSU Gymnasium. (Jillian Gandsey / Bemidji Pioneer)