The University of Minnesota Duluth won its fourth consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Sun Conference game on Friday night with a 60-40 victory over Bemidji State University at the BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, Minn. 

The Bulldog defense has been a focal point all season and it showed up tonight. The Beavers scored a season low 40 points and shot just 27.7 percent from the field. UMD has allowed 40 or fewer points in three games this season.

The Bulldogs pieced together a complete game from start to finish. They scored on their first attempt by sophomore forward Sarah Grow, a layup 19 seconds in, and never looked back. UMD led by double fugues in the first quarter and pushed that lead out to as many as 31 in the third before calling off the dogs.

Collectively, the Bulldogs shot 43.6 percent and 30.8 from three. UMD pulled down 42 rebounds including 12 on the offensive end. The Bulldogs got 32 points from the bench and scored 32 points in the paint.

UMD got out to a 17-6 lead over the Beavers in the first quarter. The six points allowed in the first was the fewest allowed in the opening quarter by the Bulldogs all season. UMD connected on 57.1 percent in the first quarter while Bemidji State shot 2-for-10. The Beavers turned the ball over eight times in the opening frame leading to nine points and a quick 11-point lead.

Grow finished with a game-high 11 points and a game-high three blocks. The Circle Pines, Minn., native also shared a game high six rebounds with teammate senior forward Emma Boehm, who ended up with seven points. Freshman forward Brooke Olson, who had a career night with 17 points and 10 rebounds last Sunday against St. Cloud State University, compiled nine points, five rebounds and a pair of steals.

Junior guard Taylor Schneider posted a season high eight points and junior forward Josie Buckley netted four points and four rebounds, both season highs as well. Freshman forward Lauren Miller amassed her first collegiate points on her only jumper of the night late in the fourth quarter.

The Beavers, who have lost nine straight, dropped to 2-9 overall and are still winless in the NSIC. Shea Oman led Bemidji State with eight points. 

The Bulldogs (7-3; 6-1 NSIC) takes on the University of Minnesota Crookston tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.