Sykora leads UMD to win over Bemidji State

News Tribune

Junior forward Brian Sykora had 31 points and 13 rebounds as Minnesota Duluth snapped a two-game losing skid with an 87-79 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Bemidji State on Saturday before 1,346 spectators at Romano Gym.

Steve Duncan and Jordan Schade added 12 points each for UMD (14-7 overall, 8-3 NSIC), one of six NSIC teams with only three conference losses going into Saturday night.

"It's a logjam," Bulldogs coach Gary Holquist said. "It's wild. It's a marathon."

Brady Fairbanks was one of four players in double figures with 22 points for the Beavers (7-11, 5-6).

UMD had two 19-point leads that were whittled to five points and four points, respectively. The Bulldogs have struggled to close out games but made 14 of 16 free throws in the final 1:09 to keep Bemidji at bay.

wis.-whitewater 88,

wis.-superior 73

Myles McKay and Matt Goodwin combined for 36 points to offset 29 points by Jake Smith as the host Warhawks (15-3, 7-2) downed the Yellowjackets (9-9, 2-7) for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory.

Whitewater shot 60 percent from the field and 83.3 from the free-throw line.

ST. SCHOLASTICA 93,

BETHANY LUTHERAN 83

Danny Schmitz was 5-for-8 from 3-point range and scored 22 points to lead the Saints to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory on Saturday before 243 spectators in Mankato, Minn.

Bryan Johnson added 15 points and Troy Miller and Jesse Taylor had 14 points each as St. Scholastica (7-10, 4-3) had four players reach double figures in scoring.

Jeff Zimmerman's 28 points led Bethany Lutheran (8-10, 2-5).

college WOmen

MINNESOTA DULUTH 70,

BEMIDJI STATE 56

Junior forward Jheri Booker turned in a signature performance in leading the Bulldogs to the NSIC win before 1,012 fans at Romano Gym, with 16 points, eight steals, five blocks, five rebounds and no turnovers.

Sophomore post Kelsey Hewitt added 11 points for UMD (10-8, 7-4), which won its fourth straight league game.

Sydney Epema was 5-for-5 from 3-point range and had 15 points to lead the Beavers (2-16, 0-11).

WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 91,

WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR 48

Tiffany Morton had 16 points and 10 rebounds as the third-ranked Warhawks (17-1, 8-1) had six players score at least nine points in the WIAC home victory.

Bri Davis and Katie Zavodny had eight points each for the Yellowjackets (4-13, 0-9).

ST. SCHOLASTICA 61,

BETHANY LUTHERAN 60

Katie Christensen scored 12 points -- including the game-winning basket with 28 seconds remaining -- as the Saints rallied from 14 points down in the second half to win the UMAC game before 242 fans in Mankato.

Samantha Oraskovich scored 13 points while Alexa Leighton hit a key 3-pointer in the closing minutes for St. Scholastica, which never led in the second half until Christensen's basket.

Eva Voss had 18 points and 15 rebounds for Bethany Lutheran (6-11, 1-6).

community college men

fond du lac 63, Rainy River 62

Brock Zins tipped in his own miss with 0.3 seconds left to give the Thunder the Minnesota College Athletic Conference win Saturday at Cloquet.

Zins scored 21 points and Ladarious Frazier added 16 for Fond du Lac (4-11, 3-4).

community college women

rainy river 54, fond du lac 47

Rainy River won the MCAC road game despite 31 points and 10 rebounds from Fond du Lac's Ashley Langila.

Asha Johnson scored 14 points to lead Rainy River.