MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's basketball team clinched a home first round Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament game for the second time in school history with a 71-51 win over Bemidji State in the Minot State Dome on Saturday afternoon.

The Beavers last hosted a NSIC Tournament game on Feb. 26, 2014 where Minot State advanced to the second round after a 74-73 win against Upper Iowa.

Minot State finished the regular season with a fifth-place finish in the North Division and 14-12 (11-11 NSIC) record while Bemidji State fell to 4-22 (3-19 NSIC).

Bemidji State raced out to a quick start, leading 13-6 halfway through the first quarter. Minot State capped the first quarter with a 7-0 run, as Kari Clements scored on a layup with 33 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game at 13.

Minot State carried the momentum into the second quarter, as Madison Wald connected on a jumper to give MSU a 28-20 lead at halftime.

Diondra Denton knocked down a free throw with 4:35 left in the third quarter to extend Minot State's lead to 14 at 38-24.

BSU's Maria Appicelli scored on an old-fashioned three-point play with eight seconds left to cut MSU's lead to 47-39 going into the fourth quarter.

Minot State took full control of the game on the defensive end of the floor, as Bemidji State didn't score the first points of the fourth quarter until 4:04 left in the game.

During that six-minute stretch, MSU outscored Bemidji State 18-0 to clinch their 14^th win of the season. Gabby Wilkinson scored on a jumper with 48 seconds left, as the Beavers eclipsed the 70-point mark for the 12^th time this season and improved to 11-1 when doing so.

Minot State shot 43.9 percent from the field while limiting Bemidji State to 35.1 percent shooting.

MSU notched a dominant 48-29 advantage in rebounding over Bemidji State and outscored BSU 36-22 in the paint and 23-3 in second chance points.

Wald paced the scoring attack for Minot State, scoring 15 on 7-19 shooting and posted a game-high three steals.

Senior Kristal Flowers registered her eighth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Holly Johnson chipped in 11 points while Clements shot four of six from the floor and added 10 points.

Minot State returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 21, as the Beavers will host Winona State in the first round of the NSIC Tournament at 6 p.m. in the Minot State Dome.