BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Winona State University women's basketball team faced off with Bemidji State University on Saturday, Jan. 13, in a tightly-contested Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) match up in BSU Gymnasium.
Emma Carpenter delivered a pair of game-winning free throws with five seconds to go to help Winona State defeat the Beavers in a back-and-forth battle on the road. Carpenter combined with
Alex Dornfeld who had a double-double day in Bemidji to net a key win.
WSU held a one-point lead after the first quarter and trailed by the same margin following two quarters of play. While the Warriors dominated the third stanza to the tune of a 12-5 advantage, BSU battled back in the fourth frame to outscore the Warriors, 17-12.
However, Carpenter forced a turnover in the final 12 seconds of the game and drew a foul with just five ticks on the clock. The senior from Eagan, Minn. calmly knocked down both attempts, leading her team to the Warrior win.
Final Score: Winona State 44, Bemidji State 43
Attendance: 607
How It Happened
The host Beavers scored first on a three-pointer just 15 seconds into the game, but starter Hailey Markworth scored in back-to-back fashion moments later to help WSU match the pace of play early on.
At the 6:17 mark of the first quarter, Alex Dornfeld provided Winona State with their first lead of the game on a mid-range jumper, the first points of what would go on to be a double-double night for the senior from Markesan, Wis.
The two teams traded scores the rest of the way in the opening ten minutes, with Markworth making the last bucket with five seconds to go to give WSU a narrow 11-10 lead.
In the second quarter, Bemidji State regained the lead at 17-15 with a strong start to the period, despite Dornfeld delivering on a pair of scores.
Emma Kilpatrick and Emma Carpenter both scored from close range as the half wound down, keeping WSU in striking distance, down 21-20 as the halftime buzzer sounded.
WSU was 0-for-9 from 3-point territory in the first half but hit four of five free throws over that same time period.
At The Half: Bemidji State 21, Winona State 20
Winona State claimed the first bucket of the second half, with Markworth starting the third quarter much like she did in the first, delivering two points on a to vault WSU back into an early lead.
WSU continued it's third quarter scoring run when Vivica Bretton and Olivia Gamoke scored, pacing WSU to a 12-5 third frame advantage.
The 32-26 Warrior lead to open the fourth quickly melted as the Beavers would net the first three baskets of the final frame. WSU would own a three-point lead on three occasions across the middle of the fourth quarter, only to see Bemidji State take a 43-40 lead on a 3-pointer with a minute to play by BSU's Isabel Majewski.
However, Majewski's make set up Emma Carpenter and the rest of the Warrior squad for an action-pack final 60 seconds.
With under 15 seconds to play in the game, Carpenter secured a steal just moments after scoring a layup to pull WSU to within one point at 43-42.
Carpenter drew a foul from BSU's Alyssa Hill and knocked down both attempts, giving Winona State the exciting 44-43 victory.
WSU Stat Standouts
Alex Dornfeld 10 points, 11 rebounds, 1 steal
Emma Carpenter 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
Olivia Gamoke 9 points, 3 rebounds
Hailey Markworth 8 points, 6 rebounds
Team Stats Comparables
WSU earned 8 steals, while BSU had 5.
Winona State out-rebounded Bemidji State, 43-33.
The Warriors held the Beavers to just 5 points in the third quarter.
Beyond the Box Score
WSU was 0-for-15 from 3-point distance but 8-of-11 from the free throw line, including Carpenter's game winners.
Winona State has won two straight over Bemidji State, having defeated the Beavers 76-63 in Winona last year.
Up Next
Winona State (5-10, 4-6 NSIC) will travel again next weekend, trekking west to the University of Mary on Friday, Jan. 19 and Minot State University on Saturday, Jan. 20.
