St. Cloud State
7-3,6-2NSIC
Bemidji State University
7-3,6-2NSIC
Huskies spoil Beavers weekend with 57-53 comeback win
2/6/2021 6:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BEMIDJI, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University women's basketball team should consider adopting a new nickname: the Heartbreakers.
Less than 24 hours after handing Bemidji State University its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division loss of the 2020-21 season, the Huskies dealt the Beavers their first back-to-back losses of 2020-21. Of course, St. Cloud State did it in dramatic fashion, as the team rallied from a 13 point halftime deficit to defeat Bemidji State 57-53.
The Huskies royally struggled in the first half, as the Beavers outscored them 16-9 in the first quarter and 19-13 in the second to hold a 35-22 advantage at the half. However, St. Cloud State has been a dangerous second half team all season long, as it slowly but surely chipped away at the Bemidji State lead. It started with a free throw here by Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) and a lay up there by Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) until the Huskies found themselves within eight 46-38 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth proved to be a furious rally, a race to see which team could score the most points in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Down by eight after three, St. Cloud State was sniffing at a comeback. Three minutes in, the Huskies weren't sniffing. They officially completed the comeback, as they outscored the Beavers 9-0 to take a 49-46 lead on a three-pointer by Wortz.
St. Cloud State wasn't done scoring there, as the team tacked on five more points to take a 54-46 lead before Bemidji State scored its first basket of the fourth quarter. The Beavers would then go on a mini run of their own in the closing minutes, but it wasn't enough to catch the Huskies, as free throws by Caitlyn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North) clinched the 57-53 victory for St. Cloud State.
Wortz ended the game as the team's leading scorer, tallying 19 points, three rebounds and a game-leading six steals in the victory. Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) followed up her career day with 17 points, three assists and two steals, while Peterson led the team with eight rebounds.
With the win, St. Cloud State's overall record improves to 7-3 and the team is 4-2 in NSIC North Division play. The Huskies will return to action on Friday, February 12 when they host the University of Minnesota-Crookston at 6 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.
