Feb. 2, 2008

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. (BSU Gymnasium) -Amy Lawson (Spencer, Iowa) broke the Bemidji State women’s
basketball team's 14-year old record for points in a single game by scoring
38 on Jan. 19 in a down-to-the-wire 84-82 road victory over Winona State
University.

She was recognized for her performance during halftime of Saturday night’s
game against Minnesota State University, Moorhead inside BSU Gymnasium.

Obviously 38 was too low for the senior guard, because, on the same night
that she was recognized for breaking the school record, she broke it again
by exploding for 39 points to lead the Beavers to a thrilling 92-91 overtime
victory over the Dragons.

Lawson began by scoring the first basket for BSU en route to a nine-point
first half. She caught fire the rest of the way, however, as she combined
for 30 points in the second half and overtime periods.

She went 12-of-19 from the field, 5-of-7 from three-point land and 10-of-13
from the free throw line. She also had five steals.

MSUM shot 56 percent from the field in the first half, and the Beavers
entered the break down 39-37.

The Dragons came out firing in the second half and jumped out to a 66-54
lead with 11 minutes remaining. The Beavers didn’t panic, kept their
composure, and went on an 18-3 run over a three-and-a-half minute span to
take a 72-69 lead.

“We took a timeout and the players responded well after that,” head coach Mike
Curfman said. “That shows a lot about their character and heart, because
they could have easily just said, ‘Oh poor us’, but they didn’t. They
stepped it up and made plays and we put together a run of our own to get the
lead back.”

“It really was a fantastic game, and I’m glad we were able to come away with
the win.”

The two teams battled to a 78-78 regulation score, but Bemidji State was too
much for MSUM in the extra session led by Lawson’s seven points. BSU got
ahead 92-88 and held on for the 92-91 victory.

Heidi Matzke (Jr., Red Lake Falls, Minn.) was 8-of-12 from the field,
scoring 18 points, and Karlee Simonson (Sr., Rockford, Minn.) and Stephanie
Peterson (Sr., Bismarck, N.D.) contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Jessica Fesenmaier led the way for the Dragons, as she recorded a
double-double with 35 points and 12 rebounds. She also blocked four shots.
Allison Swenson scored 21 and brought down nine boards. Shelly Soule (13)
and Chris Falzon (10) both reached double-digit points.

MSU Moorhead was coming off last weekend’s upset victory over No. 2
Concordia-St. Paul and a 74-50 victory over the University of Minnesota,
Crookston on Friday night.

There were 11 lead changes and nine ties in the contest. Both teams knocked
down six three-point shots, but Bemidji State did it in seven less tries.

The Beavers return to action next weekend (Feb. 9) when they travel to
Crookston, Minn., to play UMC at 6 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--beavers--