The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team has found its stride early on this season. The Bulldogs put on a clinic in the first half against the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs, outscoring them 41-25 en route to a 72-57 win.

UMD (5-1) moves to a perfect 3-0 in its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchups this season. The 5-1 start is the best for the Bulldogs since the 2009-10 season, and the four game win-streak is their best since they won four straight to finish off their 2013-14 regular season. SMSU's 57 points is the least its score in any of its four NSIC bouts.

Junior guard Sammy Kozlowski led the way for the Bulldogs with 16 points on 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) shooting, adding six rebounds, eight assists and a season-high four steals. Neither team could seem to connect from beyond the arc, with UMD shooting just 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) and SMSU shooting 2-of-17 (11.8 percent). Instead, the Bulldogs found the Mustangs to be playing tough in the paint as they notched 30 points from down low. UMD found its rhythm at the line tonight, making a season-best 17 free throws while shooting a season-best 85 percent from the charity strip.

Three Bulldogs finished in double-digits including Kozlowski (16), junior guard Emma Boehm (11), and sophomore forward Katie Stark (10). UMD is 4-1 when three-or-more players score in double-digits.

The Bulldogs will look to remain undefeated at home against the Sioux Falls Cougars (6-1; 4-0 NSIC) on Saturday (Dec. 9) with tip-off at 4 p.m. UMD will have its hands full trying to shield off junior forward Jacey Huinker who ranks second in the NSIC with 10.8 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Lauren Sanders has shot 19-of-40 (47.5 percent) from deep this season for the Cougars.