Box Score
BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team led by as many as eight points in the first half, but Bemidji State came back to take the lead at halftime and went on to beat the Dragons, 64-53, in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday night in Bemidji, Minn.

MSUM fell to 9-6 overall and 5-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the loss while Bemidji State improved to 8-7 overall and 4-7 in the league.

The Dragons struggled from the field in the game, shooting just 26.7 percent (16-of-60), including only 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from three-point range. Bemidji State shot only 31.7 percent (19-of-60).  MSUM held a 51-42 edge in rebounds.

Senior forward Morgan Zabel led MSUM with 15 points and five rebounds, while senior forward Megan Strese had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior guard Haley Thomforde added 10 points, while sophomore forward Savanna Handevidt had 10 rebounds. Zabel, Strese and freshman Natalie Van Wyhe had two assists each, while sophomore guard Meghan Roehrich added a career-high three blocks.

MSUM got off to a good start in the game, hitting five of its first 10 field goal attempts. The Dragons opened on an 16-8 run over the first eight minutes, thanks to five points from Strese and four from Thomforde. Zabel also hit a three during that stretch.

The Dragons led 19-12 with 10:38 left in the first half after Zabel drained another three-pointer but went cold offensively  the rest of the five, managing just five points over the final 10 minutes of the half as Bemidji State took a 28-24 lead into halftime.

Thomforde had seven first-half points for MSUM while Zabel had six.
MSUM was within one point five times in the first 11 minutes of the second half but was unable to regain the lead. A Roehrich three-point play with 9:50 left brought MSUM within 45-44 but the Dragons would get no closer.

The Dragons were within 47-45 with 8:25 left but endured a back-breaking scoreless spell that lasted nearly five minutes which allowed Bemidji State to build a 54-45 lead with 3:50 left.

A Zabel free throw brought MSUM within 58-53 with 1:06 left but the Dragons got no closer.

MSUM wraps up the weekend on Saturday at Minnesota Crookston. Game time is 4 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight marked the fourth time in the past 14 seasons (all under Karla Nelson), that the Dragons and Beavers split their two-game regular season series. They also split in 2005-2006, 2007-2008 and 2011-2012. The Dragons have swept Bemidji St. nine times and the Beavers' only sweep of the Dragons was during the 2003-2004 campaign.