MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead head women's basketball coach Karla Nelson earned her 400th career win on Friday evening as the Dragons picked up their first win of the season, besting Bemidji State 69-46. 

With the win, Nelson moves her career record to 39-8 against Bemidji State including a 22-2 ledger against the Beavers inside Nemzek Fieldhouse. Nelson is the winningest basketball coach in school history (both genders) by a 102-win margin. She has accounted for 53.7 percent of MSUM's all-time program wins (744).

How The Game Was Won

• MSUM would earn the early momentum in the game thanks to an 18-8 first quarter where the Dragons held Bemidji State to just a three for 16 success rate from the floor in the period. 
• Freshman Abby Berge was key throughout the game and would score seven of her 13 points in the first 10 minutes, including a three-pointer. 
• Berge collected her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, making six of her nine shot attempts. 
• While the Beavers would shoot an improved 33.3 percent from the floor in the second quarter, MSUM was still strong offensively, making 42.9 percent of their attempts in the half. 
• MSUM outrebounded Bemidji State 27-17 in the first half and led 34-22 at the break behind 22 combined points from Berge and Natalie Jens. 
• The Dragons would surge in the second half, outscoring Bemidji State 23-12, including a three of five mark from three-point range. 
• Jens added six points in the quarter for MSUM, who utilized a fullcourt press in the second half and would turn the Beavers over six times in the third stanza. 
• Bemidji State would turn the ball over four more times in the final period as the teams each scored 12 points through the last 10 minutes. 
• Jens, Berge and Ashley Fritz combined for 43 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists in the victory. MSUM grabbed 17 more rebounds than the Beavers (49-32). 
• The Dragons did not trail for a single second in the contest. 

Top Dragons

• Natalie Jens: 19 points, eight assists, four rebounds, two steals
• Abby Berge: 13 points, 11 rebounds
• Ashley Fritz: 11 points, three steals
• Terryn Johnson: Nine points, six rebounds

Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game

Of Karla Nelson's 400 wins, 39 of them have been against Bemidji State, the most of any of the 86 schools her Dragons have faced. 

Up Next

MSUM (1-7, 1-2 NSIC) plays again tomorrow as the St. Cloud State Huskies come to Moorhead for a 5:30 p.m. game.