The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball squad would top the University of Siouc Falls on Friday evening, outscoring the Cougars 84-74. The Bulldogs improve to 7-3 (4-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) and are now riding a seven game winning streak, while USF falls to 9-1 (3-1 in the NSIC) on the season.
 
The Bulldogs would shoot a 45.6% (31-68) from the floor while grabbing 37 rebounds, six blocks, seven steals and 55.6% (10-18) from beyond the arc. USF shot 48.2% (27-56) from the floor, grabbing 32 rebounds, one block, four steals and 47.4 (9-19) from beyond the arc.
 
The Bulldogs would open scoring with sophomore forward Brooke Olson dropping a quick layup. The Cougars quickly responded with a three and a two to take the lead. They would further their lead Kaely Hummel dropped a quick two. USF held the lead at 10-2 before head coach Mandy Pearson would call UMD's first timeout with seven minutes left in the first quarter. Olson would drop a quick two to pull the Bulldogs within six out of the timeout, coming off a rebound from sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen. UMD would come back to tie things at 10 a side from junior forward Payton Kahl who would drop a 3-pointer. The Bulldogs would take a 13-12 lead with four minutes remaining with another Kahl 3-pointer. UMD would sustain the lead, pulling ahead 24-16 to end the first quarter.
 
The Cougars would open the second quarter scoring a quick two. Junior guard Ann Simonet would put in one free throw, missing the second when USF would take it the other way and score a quick two. UMD would hold the lead, while the Cougars would chip away before the Bulldogs would go on a score five to take a 32-23 lead. Thiesen would drop another 3-pointer to put UMD up 37-26 before the five minute mark, and would ride that lead into the first media timeout. Senior guard Taylor Schneider would drop a three right out of the timeout, putting the Bulldogs up 42-26. USF would score five quick points, putting the score at 46-31 in favor of UMD. The Bulldogs would stay ahead going into half, leading 48-36.
 
Senior forward Katie Stark would open the scoring in the second half with a deep 3-pointer. Thiesen would drop in two free throws to put UMD up 53-36. The Cougars would grab two quick baskets before Olson would hit a 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs up 58-41. Scoring would go quiet for two minutes before Schneider picked it back up with a layup at the five minute mark into a media timeout. The Bulldogs would score two after the Cougars made two free throws. The Cougars would start to go on a little run before UMD would drop a two pointer to make the score 64-48. The teams would trade baskets, with junior forward Sarah Grow grabbing two quick baskets. The Bulldogs would take a 66-52 lead into the final frame.
 
The Cougars would grab the first basket out of the break then scoring two free throws. Thiesen and Simonet would make back to back baskets to grab a quick five points before USF would score two of their own. Kahl would dr4 a 3-pointer in to give UMD a 76-65 lead at the five minute mark. Schneider would drop a free throw before the Cougars would put up a 2-pointer. Stark match that with a 2-pointer of her own. Kahl would follow with two free throw make putting UMD up 81-69. Scoring went quiet in the final two minutes, with USF putting up a layup in the final 30 seconds. UMD would call a timeout with 30 seconds remaining. Olson would drop a final basket with six second remaining, winning with an 84-74 final.
 
Freshman guard Taytum Rhoades would finish with one rebound and two points. Olson would finish with 28 minutes played, grabbing five rebounds, scoring 13 while shooting 37.5 % (6-16). Thiesen would play 32 minutes, grabbing four rebounds while scoring 13 points, shooting 44.4% (4-9) with three 3-pointers. Simonet would play 31 minutes, grabbing five rebounds, eight points and shooting 42.9% (3-7). Kahl would play 29 minutes, grab one rebound and score 14 on a 66.7% (4-6) shooting percentage. Grow would grab seven rebounds, score 18 and shoot 50% (8-16) in 22 minutes played. Schneider would drop eight points and grab five assists with one rebound, shooting 100% (2-2) from the floor. Stark would score eight in the contest, grabbing eight rebounds and three blocks, shooting 33.3% (3-9) from the floor.
 
Bulldogs head to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow at 3:30 PM.