歪歪漫画

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Bemidji State darlings met their demise on Saturday morning.

The BSU women鈥檚 basketball team suffered a 76-67 loss to top-seeded Minnesota Duluth during the NSIC Tournament semifinals in Sioux Falls, S.D., ending a captivating year that鈥檚 suddenly over all too soon.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud obviously. It was quite the ride,鈥� head coach Chelsea DeVille said of the season. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been taking baby steps, and now we finally took a big leap where we needed to and always thought we could. Just a remarkable year. Lots of great memories, and a great way to push forward for next year.鈥�

The Beavers challenged No. 9 in the nation all morning, tied as late as 61-61 with 3:04 to go. But the Bulldogs imposed their will with a definitive 12-2 run that dashed Bemidji State鈥檚 hopes of the program鈥檚 first-ever conference championship game appearance.

鈥淭hat stretch proved they had been here before, in those moments,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥淏etween Ann Simonet being the tournament player that she always is, and then (NSIC North Player of the Year) Brooke Olson, they just had some poise and some big-time shots when they had to.鈥�

The semifinal loss will likely be a small blip on the season鈥檚 memory. Rather, BSU will often look back with rose-colored glasses on a year to be remembered as the program鈥檚 first winning season since 1995-96 and its first quarterfinal victory since 2004. What鈥檚 more, they also set a standard that they fully expect to uphold moving forward.

But don鈥檛 be mistaken: They sure gave UMD a run for their money on Saturday, too.

Minnesota Duluth (12-1) led for the majority of the first half, including a 13-12 advantage after the opening quarter in part to six BSU turnovers.

Nevertheless, Gabby DuBois hit a reverse layup off an offensive rebound midway through the second, capping an 8-2 spurt that set Bemidji State in front 22-21. The teams traded blows to the end of the half, which finished in favor of the Beavers by a 32-31 margin.

Even when the BSU offense wasn鈥檛 operating smoothly in the third quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to take a seven-point lead, the defensive effort was what kept Bemidji State in contention.

鈥淚 thought we played about as good defense for 90% of the game as we could have,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥�(We were) really tough, getting the rebounds and limiting them.鈥�

A 51-45 score through three quarters bled into a 57-49 Beaver deficit early in the fourth. But BSU stormed back, finally finding an offensive spark behind a Taylor Vold 3-pointer and Rachael Heittola鈥檚 inside dominance for a game-tying 7-0 run. Shortly thereafter, Brooklyn Bachmann鈥檚 layup brought on another tie at 61-61 with 3:17 remaining.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the maturity in who we are as a team,鈥� DeVille said. 鈥淭his team gave me a calm and cool that we could get out of any hole, or we could win any game no matter what.鈥�

Yet UMD scored the next five points within a nine-second span, leading to the 12-2 run that decided the game before it went final.

Heittola did all she could in scoring a season-high 29 points, while Trinity Myer added 18. Olson tallied 25 for Minnesota Duluth alongside 18 from Simonet.

Bemidji State finishes the season 10-6 overall and graduates three seniors in Taylor Bray, Gabby DuBois and Teagan Pompa.

Bray did not play in the postseason due to an ankle injury. She finishes her career with a 54.2 shooting percentage, breaking Sherry Hill鈥檚 39-year-old program record of 53.6%.

No. 1 Minnesota Duluth 76, No. 3 Bemidji State 67

BSU 12 20 13 22 -- 67

UMD 13 18 20 25 -- 76

BEMIDJI STATE (10-6) -- Heitola 29, Myer 18, Bachmann 6, DuBois 5, Vold 5, Zerr 4, Rezabek 0. Totals: 23-56 FGs, 19-21 FTs, 67.

MINNESOTA DULUTH (12-1) -- Olson 25, Simonet 18, Kahl 8, Thiesen 8, Gilbertson 4, Grow 4, Rhoades 4, Nelson 3, Granica 2. Totals: 26-61 FGs, 17-22 FTs.