Backed by a strong first half performance, the University of Minnesota Duluth knocked off No. 15 Minnesota State University Moorhead, 71-59, Friday evening. 

The Bulldogs (11-6; 9-4 NSIC) handed the Dragons (15-2; 12-1 NSIC) their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference loss of the season, and snapped a 15-game win streak for MSU Moorhead. It's the first win for UMD over a nationally ranked team since Dec. 20, 2014, when it beat then No. 21 St. Cloud State. After going 1-3 in November to start the season, the Bulldogs have since gone 10-3, which included a five-game win-streak.

Thanks to an 11-0 run to start the game, UMD took the first quarter by a score of 17-5. The five points are the least the Dragons have scored in a single quarter this season. The Bulldogs took a commanding 39-21 lead into the half thanks in large part to a 12-0 run in the first half and a team-high 13 first-half points from senior forward Taylor Meyer. Meyer now needs just three points to join the 1,000 point club -- she would be the 20th Bulldog to garner the honor. Meyer shot 7-for-11 (63.6 percent) for 20 points from the floor and went a perfect 4-for-4 at the line. Sophomore guard Emma Boehm needed just 11 first half minutes to score eight points on 3-for-5 shooting. Senior center Allyson Harris finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds and a pair of steals. Harris now has scored in the double-digits in seven-straight games, and nine of the last 10.

UMD will head to Aberdeen, SD., to face off against Northern State (12-5; 8-5 NSIC). The Wolves have won just two of their last five games after starting the season 10-2.