The University of Minnesota Duluth got the production from its bench that it lacked in the opening games of the season, but No. 24 Pittsburg State University jumped ahead early and held on to knock off the Bulldogs 81-50 on day one of the Winstead-Reeves Classic, hosted by Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri on Friday evening.

UMD (1-2) will look to bounce back tomorrow night as Pittsburg State improves to 4-0 on the season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
• Freshman guard Ayo Porte netted 10 points, the most of her young career to lead the Bulldogs while adding a game-high nine rebounds. Freshman center Rayna Sherow added seven points, tying senior guard Jessica Newman for the second-most on UMD.
• Cathy Brugman netted a game-high 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting to lead the Bearcats, while Lizzy Jeronimus added a team-high eight boards to go with 15 points.

The Bulldogs shot just 8-of-28 in the opening frame, 28.6 percent, while the Gorillas shot the lights with 58.1 percent, 18-of-31. Pittsburg State out-scored UMD 40-22 in the paint, but rebounds were even - 37 per team, but Pitt didn't give UMD enough chances on the defensive end as they finished the game having shot 51.8 percent, and 38.9 percent from three-point range. The Bulldogs finished the game having shot just 31.7 percent.

UP NEXT
UMD will continue down in Maryville tomorrow afternoon, taking on the host-Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State - the same foe of UMD football. Opening tip is set for 4:00 p.m.