BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team outscored Bemidji State 22-8 in the second quarter on its way to a 75-67 win over the Beavers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Bemidji, Minn.

MSUM improved to 13-4 overall and 10-4 in the NSIC with the win, while Bemidji State fell to 6-12 overall and 2-12 in the league. The Dragons have now won three straight meetings in the series with Bemidji and is a three-way tie for second in the NSIC North Division with Minnesota Crookston and St. Cloud State. Northern State leads the north at 11-3.

Senior forward Heather Strese and junior guard Morgan Banasik each scored a game-high 21 points for MSUM. Senior forward Savanna Handevidt had 14 points and six rebounds while sophomore forward Drew Sannes had 13 points. Junior guard Natalie Van Wyhe didn't score but had seven rebounds, five assists and three steals, all game-highs for MSUM.

The Dragons shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) for the game, compared to 41.7 percent (25-of-60) for the Beavers. MSUM had a 39-37 edge in rebounds.

MSUM trailed 18-11 with 3:45 left in the first quarter but ended the frame on an 8-0 run to take a 19-18 lead. Threes by Handevidt and Banasik keyed that stretch for MSUM.

Trailing 22-21 two minutes into the second quarter, MSUM outscored the Beavers 20-4 over the final eight minutes to take a 41-26 lead into halftime. Sannes was the catalyst for MSUM, scoring 10 points during that run, while Strese had seven points.

Strese (14 points) and Sannes (12 points) combined for 26 first-half points for the Dragons.

The Dragon advantage grew to 49-27 early in the third quarter after back-to-back baskets by sophomore forward Cassidy Thorson and Banasik. MSUM took a 62-46 lead into the fourth quarter.

Bemidji State rallied in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to six on a pair of occasions, but the Dragons weathered the storm. Leading 67-61 with 3:39 left, Banasik buried a three – and followed with two free throws moments later – to push the lead to 72-61, and the Dragons were not seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Thorson had six points, three rebounds and two assists for MSUM.

MSUM continues its stretch of four straight road games on Friday at Concordia-St. Paul for a 6 p.m. game.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Heather Strese scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Dragons' 71-60 loss Friday night at Minnesota Crookston. Prior to last night, the last time Strese recorded a double-double in a loss (seven games) was when the University of Wisconsin-Parkside handed the Dragons a 70-61 season-opening setback on Nov. 14, 2014.