Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Led by a career high 13 points from freshman guard
Emily Becken (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and a monster 16-rebound effort from sophomore
Krista Rabenberg (Mobridge, S.D.), the Northern State University women's basketball program put an exclamation point on their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Holiday HoopsFest experience with a 76-53 win over Bemidji State Sunday afternoon in Sioux Falls Arena.
Becken, who played just 16 minutes in the game, was a driving force for the now 3-2 Wolves, particularly in the second half. The 5-foot-7 freshman scored all but two of her points in the second frame, driving the ball in the lane and earning trips to the free throw line, where she knocked down five of six attempts. She was also 2-for-4 from 3-point range.
Rabenberg came up just as big in the front court for the Wolves, cleaning up missed shots and using her height to keep the Beavers away from the rim. Rabenberg had four blocked shots while also putting up 12 points on the offensive end of the court.
Sophomore
Jodi Reinschmidt (St. Michael, Minn.) joined in the scoring attack with 11 points, while freshman
Mikayla Barondeau (Frederick, S.D.) added 10 points off the bench on 6 of 6 shooting from the free throw line.
The Wolves started out slow, committing three fouls in the first 30 seconds of play and spotting the Beavers a 5-point lead to open the game. Back-to-back Rabenberg layups, however, tied the score at seven at the 15:43 mark and a pair of Barondeau free throws with 12:06 left on the clock gave the Wolves the lead for good.
After building a 13-point lead by halftime, the Wolves let the Beavers back to within nine points in the early going of the second half. NSU, however, would go on a 23-1 run that covered more than six minutes of play to gain complete control of the game.
The Beavers, now 2-4 on the year, were led by Katherine Jamnick, who had 13 points off the bench, while Colleen McKay added 12 to the total.
The Wolves return home on Friday and Saturday to host Wayne State and Augustana, respectively, in the opening weekend of NSIC play. Both teams were also part of the NSIC HoopsFest, which completed Sunday.
