The University of MInnesota Duluth could not slow a streaky Winona State University squad which scored 41 first-half points to knock off the Bulldogs 81-60 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday night.

UMD (15-9, 11-7 NSIC) fell victim to first half streaks by the Warriors, as Winona State (12-10, 11-7 NSIC) scored eight-straight points early to pull ahead 14-4 and seven-straight later in the half to turn a 28-17 lead into a 35-17 lead. The Bulldogs hit a pair of scores including a three-pointer by senior forward Brendon Pineda to trim the deficit down to 13, but once again, the Warriors extended their lead scoring six straight points in just under a minute UMD would finally hit a streak as senior guard Pierre Newton scored the final five points of the half, sending the Bulldogs to the locker room trailling 41-27.

Winona State hit six threes in the first half compared to just a pair for UMD, shooting 57.7 percent overall while holding the Bulldogs to 32.4 percent as the visitors couldn't make good on extra chances provided by four offensive rebounds and three steals.

UMD bested its first-half output in the second half, but Winona State only continued where it left off, shooting 54.7 percent for the game. The Bulldogs would end the game shooting 36.8 percent, but were out-rebounded 39-27 overall while Winona State hit 11 threes compared to just five by UMD. The 60 points matched a season-low for the Bulldogs dating back to the season opener at the University of Central Missouri. Winona State's Kyle Bauman led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds for the Warriors. Newton scored 23 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Pineda had 20 points and a team-high six boards.

UMD returns to Romano Gymnasium next weekend for an increasingly important and difficult NSIC North division match-up against No. 8 Minnesota State University Moorhead. Opening tip between the Bulldogs and Dragons is set for 8:00 p.m. following the women's contest in Duluth on Friday night.