The University of Minnesota Duluth will close out the 2014 half of its schedule before a bye week for the holidays when it plays host for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match-up this Saturday against St. Cloud State University, which moved into the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 for the first time this season on Tuesday.
UMD (4-5, 2-3 NSIC) enters the weekend having suffered a pair of setbacks in its return to Romano Gymnasium last weekend, falling against No. 3 Northern State University on Friday night before a second-half comeback fell short against Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Saturday night.
FREE THROWS• Senior guard
Jessica Newman led the Bulldogs offensively as they went toe-to-toe with the third-ranked team in the nation in Northern State, and made a second half-comeback against the Dragons, averaging 17.0 points and 4.0 rebounds on the weekend.
• Junior guard
Taylor Dillinger put together the best game of her season on Saturday afternoon against the Dragons, falling a rebound short of a double-double with 10 points, nine boards, six steals, and five assists while shooting 40.0 percent and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
The 51-point second half that UMD posted against MSU-Moorhead was the most the Bulldogs had scored all season in a single 20-mintue frame, edging a 48-point first half in an 88-67 win against Bemidji State. Unforunately, it was preceded by UMD's fewest points scored in a half (18) in the opening frame. "It was a very impressive second-half effort. I thought it was very valiant," said head coach
Annette Wiles after the game on Saturday night. "I'm proud of the effort and of the battle-back spirit, but no excuses. That first half just really took us off our heels. To get 14 down, we just couldn't recover from it, but give our players a lot of credit for their heart and their fight."
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES (Saturday, Dec. 20, 2:00 p.m.) -
Live Stats/Video• No. 21
St. Cloud State (8-0, 5-0 NSIC) edged No. 7 Northern State 62-54 last time out to knock the Wolves from the top three of the WBCA Top 25 and propel themselves into the rankings. SCSU knocked off UMD 81-67 in St. Cloud on Nov. 29 earlier this season. The Huskies own a 34-26 all-time record against the Bulldogs.
• Junior Lexy Peterman leads St. Cloud averaging 12.3 points per game. She netted 14 against UMD to go with a team-high 10 rebounds. Junior forward Karissa LeCaptain led the way for the Huskies with 20 points against the Bulldogs.
• St. Cloud State shot 43.1 percent against the Bulldogs, including 18-of-36 in the second half, while UMD shot 40.7 percent, 12-of-26 in the first half and just 12-of-33 in the second half.
UMD and St. Cloud State will tip off the action this weekend at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
