JAMESTOWN, N.D. – A dominant night on the glass wasn't enough to overcome ball security struggles for the University of Jamestown women's basketball team, as they fell 77-61 to Bemidji State on Thursday night at Harold Newman Arena.
Despite holding a 33-32 lead at halftime, the Jimmies (4-4, 2-2 NSIC) could not withstand a second-half surge by the Beavers, who capitalized on Jamestown's mistakes to pull away.
UJ controlled the interior for much of the night, significantly outrebounding the Beavers 47-27. The Jimmies were particularly active on the offensive glass, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds compared to just four for the visitors.
Jessika Lofstrom was a force in the paint for Jamestown, recording a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end. Hali Savela also contributed on the boards with eight rebounds.
While the rebounding effort was strong, the Jimmies were undone by 25 turnovers. Bemidji State's defense turned those opportunities into instant offense, scoring 31 points off turnovers. In contrast, the Jimmies managed just six points off the Beavers' six turnovers.
The paint points favored the visitors 52-26, as the turnovers often led to easy transition baskets for Bemidji State, who held a 24-5 edge in fast-break points.
Daviney Dreckman paced the Jimmies' offense with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Allie Berns added nine points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Haidyn Crockett chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.
However, the Jimmies struggled to slow down Bemidji State's top duo. Evyn Eppinga (28 points) and Kassandra Caron (27 points) combined for 55 points, nearly matching Jamestown's total team output.
After falling behind 23-16 in the first quarter, Jamestown locked down on defense in the second frame. The Jimmies held Bemidji State to just nine points in the quarter, using a 17-9 run to take a one-point advantage into the locker room.
The momentum shifted decisively in the third quarter. Bemidji State outscored Jamestown 24-12 in the period to regain control. The Jimmies fought to keep pace in the fourth but were outscored 21-16 in the final frame as the Beavers secured the road victory.
UJ finishes its three-game homestand on Saturday when they take on Minnesota Duluth at 3 p.m.
