歪歪漫画

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- In a season with so many milestones, is it really any surprise that the Bemidji State women鈥檚 basketball team found another to reach?

The Beavers made the latest step in a historic season-long march on Friday morning, defeating Concordia-St. Paul 71-70 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and advancing to the NSIC Tournament semifinals for just the second time ever.

鈥淚t means a lot, only being here for the second time in the semifinals,鈥� junior Trinity Myer said. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think that we鈥檙e going to necessarily play any different than we have before. We鈥檙e right where we want to be. We definitely earned being here.鈥�

BSU had to hold its breath down to the wire, as Riley Wheatcraft鈥檚 late layup bounced off the rim, the miss ensuring a one-point win for the newcomers from the north country.

鈥淥h man, I could have just bawled the entire time. I could still be crying,鈥� said Bemidji State head coach Chelsea DeVille, the North Division鈥檚 Coach of the Year. 鈥淚鈥檓 just so excited and happy. Seeing our kids, it鈥檚 such a high. This is why you coach, for moments like that.鈥�

The Beavers (10-5) will be back in the conference鈥檚 final four for the first time since 2004. They鈥檝e never reached the conference championship game, but they鈥檒l have a chance to rewrite that storyline at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, against top-seeded Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs beat Sioux Falls 78-64 in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

鈥淲e did a nice job against Duluth, in our opinion, both times we played them,鈥� DeVille said of the regular season, both road losses. 鈥淲e need to make more shots than we did, and obviously we have a big challenge ahead. 鈥� We鈥檒l be ready to go.鈥�

On Friday, Myer and Rachael Heittola scripted the victory.

BSU got a dream start, using 10 points out of Heittola for a 17-7 lead in the opening 5:57. The Golden Bears (11-6) responded with an 8-0 run and were within 19-15 after one, yet Heittola kept the advantage at 25-19 early in the second quarter.

But she didn鈥檛 score the rest of the half, and CSP shot 10-for-16 in the quarter to force a 35-all tie going into the break.

Concordia-St. Paul had a strong third quarter, as well, but Myer scored 10 points in the frame to keep Bemidji State close. The deficit reached five, but Myer answered back with a layup, then took a charge, to help keep things within 57-56 entering the fourth.

And then, down 64-61 with five minutes left, the Beavers decided this was their game to take.

鈥淚 think it was just who wanted it more,鈥� Myer said. 鈥淲e found the grit within us to finish the game, especially in the last quarter, where it truly mattered.鈥�

BSU scored eight straight points to jump ahead 69-64, capped by a Heittola bucket on the block off a deep entry pass from Myer with three minutes to go. The Golden Bears inched back within 71-70, then got a defensive stop with 6.8 seconds to go, but the potential game-winner didn鈥檛 fall, advancing Bemidji State to the semifinals.

鈥淚t was definitely nerve-wracking, that last possession. But we pulled it out,鈥� Myer said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just a big family. I think we鈥檙e all so happy for each other, and we鈥檙e proud of each other.鈥�

Myer finished with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Heittola had a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Taylor Vold tallied 11 points for the Beavers, as well. CSP got four scorers in double figures, led by Sidney Wentland鈥檚 16.

鈥�(This win) means everything moving forward,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥淗owever this year ends, we鈥檝e taken so many strides and set a standard that we need to continue.鈥�

No. 3 Bemidji State 71, No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul 70

BSU 19 16 21 15 -- 71

CSP 15 20 22 13 -- 70

BEMIDJI STATE (10-5) -- Myer 22, Heittola 20, Vold 11, DuBois 8, Bachmann 7, Zerr 3, Rezabek 0, Wolhowe 0. Totals: 24-63 FGs, 18-21 FTs, 71.

CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL (11-6) -- Wentland 16, Becher 14, Wheatcraft 11, M. DuBois 10, Schultz 8, Schaub 5, Lemke 4, Zgutowicz 2, Hanson 0, Johnson 0, Kuma 0. Totals: 28-62 FGs, 11-16 FTs, 70.