Bemidji, MN (NSUWolves.com) [FRIDAY] – Three scored in double figures tonight as the Northern State women’s basketball team picked up a critical road victory over Bemidji State, 62-54. With the win the Wolves move into a 3-way tie for fourth place in the north division with only three games remaining in the regular season.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 62, BSU 54
Records: NSU 14-11 (9-10 NSIC), BSU 7-16 (4-15 NSIC)
Attendance: 276
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Laurie Rogers knocked down the first two baskets of the game to give Northern State an early 4-0 lead, and the defense held Bemidji State scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of game time; the Wolves scored the final six points of the first period to take a 16-8 lead into second quarter
- While Northern went cold shooting from the field in the second quarter, shooting 4-16 (25.0%), NSU remained within striking distance trailing only 26-24 at the halftime break
- Bemidji State momentarily held leads of five points in the opening minutes of the third quarter however Northern State used a 6-0 scoring run led by Kailee Oliverson and Rianna Fillipi to grab a 3-point lead (38-35) with 4:14 remaining in the period
- Midway through the fourth quarter the Wolves struck a 9-0 scoring run to take the lead for good, shooting 8-12 (66.7%) from the field in the quarter to secure the win
- Northern shot 23-55 (41.8%) from the field in the game, and shot 40 percent or better from the field in three of the four quarters
- The Wolves won the turnover battle forcing 13 Beaver turnovers while committing only eight in the win; tonight marked the tenth game this season committing ten or fewer turnovers, improving to 7-3 in those contests
- Oliverson notched her fifth double-double of the season with 21 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in the win, she also recorded her eighth game of 20 or more points this season (fifth in last six games)
- Rogers recorded her 16th game this season in double figures and tenth game with three or more blocks; Fillipi reached double figures for the fifth straight game and 14th this season, while notching three or more steals for the seventh time this season
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Kailee Oliverson: 21 points, 16 rebounds, 2 blocks
Laurie Rogers: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals
Rianna Fillipi: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
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Crookston, MN (NSUWolves.com) [SATURDAY] – Northern State never trailed on Saturday afternoon as they cruised to a 75-60 win at Minnesota Crookston. A career night for Laurie Rogers’ kept the Wolves hopes alive for hosting a NSIC Tournament contest in Wachs Arena, as Northern remains tied for fourth place in the North Division with only two games remaining in the regular season.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 75, UMC 60
Records: NSU 15-11 (10-10 NSIC), UMC 10-16 (9-11 NSIC)
Attendance: 399
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alayna Benike and Rianna Fillipi powered a 9-2 scoring run to break the game open midway through the opening period (15-7), forcing Minnesota Crookston to call an early timeout
- A jumper by Kailee Oliverson capped a 10-0 scoring run for Northern to finish the first quarter up 25-9
- Oliverson and Rogers extended the scoring run to 14-2 in the opening minutes of the second quarter and pushed the NSU lead to 18 points (29-11)
- The Golden Eagles were able to chip away at the Wolves lead in the second period as they shot 46.2 percent in the period compared to 29.4 percent for NSU, however Northern State took a 38-24 lead into the halftime break after a Benike 3-pointer with only 12 second remaining in the half
- The opening minutes of the third quarter were back-and-forth and UMC was momentarily able to get within ten points (46-36) with 3:19 remaining in the period, however a 14-6 NSU scoring run in the final three minutes extended the lead back to 18 points (60-42) with only one period remaining
- Crookston opened the final quarter of play with five consecutive points and momentarily cut the lead back down to 11 again, however jumpers by Rogers and Oliverson put the game out of reach and secured a weekend sweep up north for Northern State
- Northern State shot 12-14 (85.7%) from the free throw line in the contest with Rogers shooting 7-8, Oliverson 4-4, and Fillipi 1-2 from the charity stripe
- The Wolves once again won the turnover battle, committing eight turnovers while forcing 12 for the Golden Eagles; NSU committed ten or fewer turnovers for the 11th time this season and improved to 8-3 in those games
- Northern State improved to 11-2 when leading at the halftime break this season, while also improving to 7-0 this season when scoring 70 or more points
- Rogers scored a career-high 23 points in the win on 8-11 shooting from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line, it was her 17th game of the season in double figures and third consecutive
- Oliverson recorded her sixth double-double of the season (12 points, 11 rebounds) and second consecutive; she scored in double figures for the 20th time this season and ninth consecutive
- Fillipi scored in double figures for the sixth straight game and 15th this season, while Benike scored in double figures for only the fourth time this season
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Laurie Rogers: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block
Rianna Fillipi: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Kailee Oliverson: 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks
Alayna Benike: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
UP NEXT
Northern State looks to the final week of the regular season next weekend as they travel to UMary on Thursday evening before hosting Minot State for Senior Night on Saturday. The Wolves and Marauders are scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on Thursday at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Northern then concludes the regular season at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Wachs Arena against the Beavers.