Box Score Bemidji, MN - Forced to overcome a 16 point deficit, the University of Mary rallied to defeat Bemidji State University 81-77 and complete a Northern Sun women's basketball road sweep. Kayla Schmidt scored 20 points and Kaitlyn Haag contributed 18 to lead the Marauders.

The win is the third straight for the Marauders, who improve to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the NSIC to climb to fourth in the standings on the final weekend of play in 2011. The Beavers slip to 5-5 and 3-3.

Compared to the Beavers, the Marauders struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 40 per cent to BSU's 58.6 per cent. The Beavers would ride their impressive shooting to a 37-21 lead at one point before rolling into intermission up 47-37.

The Marauders tightened their defensive significantly in the second half, cutting down the Beavers shooting percentage to 22.2 per cent after intermission. U-Mary would also gain control of the boards.

Ali Collins cut the Marauders deficit to three points early in the second half. Bemidji State responded with an 11-0 run to push the Beavers advantage back to 14 points with 13:02 left in the game, forcing U-Mary to dig out of anther deficit.

Led by a pair of treys by Schmidt, the Marauders pulled within a point with over six minutes left in the game. BSU then connected on two free throws before Mia Gilreath nailed a three pointer to tie the game at 75-75. After a defensive stop by the Marauders, a basket by Haag would put U-Mary ahead for the first time all night with more than four minutes remaining.

The Beavers pulled even on a pair of free throws by Shannon Thompson at 1:45 but Haag would score the winning basket off a rebound of a Shaunna Knife miss with 1:29 remaining. BSU had four chances to even the game but couldn't hit a basket as the Marauders defense held steady. Knife blocked the Beavers third try and Laura Petersen rebounded the fourth.

The Marauders sealed the game with six seconds on the clock when Schmidt nailed two free throws.

Schmidt hit four of her six three pointers in the second half and led the Marauders with 20 points. She hit both her free throw attempts and had two assists.

For the second straight night Haag had a big night off the bench, scoring a career-high 18 points while pulling down nine rebounds. Petersen chipped in 16 points and Collins had 12 points, four assists and two steals. Knife didn't score but had nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

Katie Warmack led BSU with 21 points, one of four Beavers in double figures. Samantha Baldwin had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

U-Mary dominated in the paint, outscoring BSU 38-20, leading to a huge 17-4 advantage on second chance points. The Marauders also held a 28-12 edge in points off the bench.

The Marauders return to action January 2 when U-Mary hosts Winona State University.

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