The University of Minnesota Duluth traveled to Springfield, Mo. on Monday evening to take on the No. 1 ranked Drury Lady Panthers. The Bulldogs finished in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crossover tournament. UMD fell to DU, 68-80, and now carry a 0-3 record on the year, while Drury improves to 4-0 on the year.
The Bulldogs would out-pace the Lady Panthers, shooting 52.0% (26-50) from the floor while making 9 (9-25, 36.0%) threes and going 7-12 (58.3%) from the free throw line. DU would shoot 41.9% (26-62) from the floor, making 10 (10-22, 45.5) threes and going 18-23 (78.3) from the free throw line.
UMD would keep pace with the Lady Panthers to start the game, scoring seven in the first five minutes, trailing only by four to start. Junior guard
Ann Simonet and senior forward Katie Star would lead the Bulldogs to start, each putting up three to open the game. Before the first quarter would end, UMD would put up 24 and earn a seven point lead on Drury, whole would score 17. Scoring would slow down in the second quarter, with The Lady Panthers scoring to open the second, dropping in a two from Azia Lynch. DU would make its way back into the mix, going on a 9-2 run to tie things at 26 a side before taking the lead with five minutes to go in the half. The Lady Panthers kept the momentum flowing, gaining a 32-26 lead before UMD was able to score six straight and tie things back at 32 a side. Sophomore forward
Brooke Olson would drop 10 in the first half, picking up four rebounds. Simonet would drop seven points, picking up three rebounds. Freshman guard
Taytum Rhoades would grab four rebounds as well as four points.
Things picked up right where they left off in the second quarter, with each side making a basket in the opening minute. Drury would put up five straight before the Bulldogs got their scoring going. UMD would fall slightly behind, with DU grabbing a four point lead with five minutes to go in the quarter. The Bulldogs would find their footing and gain ground back on the Lady Panthers, bringing things back to a tie at 54 a side. The final frame would open with Paige Robinson draining a three for DU. Simonet would drop a short jumper in shortly after, then UMD would grab a defensive rebound that would be passed to Stark who would drain a go-ahead three with seven minutes to play in the fourth. SImonet would put one in after Stark's, but the Lady Panthers would keep on pushing, grabbing a quick two and draining a three to take a two point lead on UMD. The Bulldogs would fight hard to find their way back into the mix, but Drury put up a six point lead and ride the momentum to the finish to beat UMD by 12, 68-80.
Olson led the way with 17 points, gathering six rebounds and going 7-10 (70.0%) from the floor. Simonet would put up 12 points of her own, picking up five rebounds and shooting at a 71.4% (5-7) rate from the floor. Junior guard/forward
Payton Kahl would put up as well, grabbing three rebounds and shooting 71.4% (5-7) from the floor. Stark would put up 11 points, grabbing three rebounds. Rhoades would nab eight points, with five rebounds and shoot 60.0% (3-5) on the evening.
The Bulldogs come home to play in Romano for the first time this season, playing host to Northern Michigan (Nov. 16) for a non-conference match.
