The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball squad topped Southwest Minnesota State University70-59, and extended their win streak to eight on the year. The Bulldogs improve to 8-3 overall (5-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) while the Mustangs drop to 5-5 (0-5 in the NSIC) on the year.
 
UMD would shoot 43.8% (21-48) on the afternoon, with 29 rebounds, three blocks and eight steals. SMSU would shoot 30.4% (17-56) on the day, grabbing 43 rebounds with one block and 10 steals.
 
The Mustangs would score first off a quick layup. Sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen would follow with two free throws to tie things back at two a side. After SMSU would make a second layup junior guard Ann Simonet put up a layup, scoring a free throw on a shooting foul. After a couple of free throw makes from the Mustangs, Simonet would drop in another layup. Scoring went silent for a matter of two minutes before junior forward Payton Kahl would sink a 2-point jumper to put UMD up 9-6. Kahl would drain a layup to follow. Following a media timeout, scoring would again go quiet before senior guard Taylor Schneider would sink one free throw, putting the Bulldogs up 12-6 with two minutes in the first quarter. SMSU responded with a two of their own. Kahl would sink another free throw before the Mustangs dropped in two. Freshman guard Taytum Rhoades would drop in two free throws in response to put UMD up 16-10 before the quarter would end.
 
After a quick break, SMSU would put up the first two points off free throws before sophomore forward Brooke Olson would nail a quick layup in response for UMD. The Mustangs would grab one pount off a free throw before Olson put in another layup to put the Bulldogs head 20-13. SMSU was able to grab a quick two in response. Schneider sink another layup just a minute later. Thiesen would follow with a basket of her own, coming off a feed from junior forward Sarah Grow. Olson would drop one following that coming from yet another dish from Grow that would lead into a media timeout. SMSU would follow with two free throws coming from a foul from Rhoades with the Bulldogs leading 26-17. SMSU managed to make the next basket, a quick layup to pull the Mustangs within seven. SMSU drained a 3-pointer after grabbing a defensive rebound. Thiesen would take to the line to grab two free throws that would drop. The Mustangs would drive down the other way and sink a 3-pointer to pull within three on UMD. After Kahl would foul, SMSU would score two free throws to pull within one, the Bulldogs leading 28-27. Thiesen would foul, giving the Mustangs two free throws, where they would take a one point lead, 29-28, with a minute left. The Bulldogs would trail the Mustangs heading into half by one, 29-28.
 
SMSU came out with the first points, dropping a 3-pointer from deep. Thiesen would respond quickly with a layup. Olson would score a layup a minute later to tie things before the Mustangs would hit another 3-pointer to take the lead back. Simonet would grab two free throws to pull UMD within one. SMSU would score another two before Olson would score another layup to keep the Bulldogs within one. UMD was down 37-36 leading into the first media timeout. It would be a full minute before scoring commenced, with Simonet dropping two free throws to give the Bulldogs the lead once again 38-37. Olson would drop one free throw of her own to follow. SMSU was able to snag a deep 3-pointer to grab the lead back by one, and follow with a layup to grab a 42-36 lead. Rhoads would drop a layup in response to pull UMD within one. The Mustangs would score a quick layup to follow finishing out the third quarter with SMSU leading 44-41.
 
Rhoades dropped a quick layup to open the final frame. Thiesen would grab the lead for UMD, putting a layup in and grabbing a one point lead, with Grow dropping a layup as well, the Bulldogs up 47-44. Before the Mustangs would take a timeout. Grow would nail a free throw out of the timeout. SMSU would score two free throws to pull within two. Kahl would drop a layup in to give UMD a 50-46 lead before the Mustangs would drop a 3-pointer to keep pace. Kahl would hit two free throws to follow. Senior forward Katie Stark would score her first two points of the game off of two free throws. After about a minute and a half of back and forth play, SMSU would grab two points followed by an Olson deep 3-pointer leading into a media timeout. With the squads battling for ball possession, Simonet would score two free throws to give the Bulldogs a 59-51 lead. Olson would push that lead to 10 with a layup. The Mustangs scored two free throws before Olson nailed a huge 3-pointer, but SMSU would hit one of their own in response. Stark dropped a 3-pointer of her own to give the Bulldogs an 11 point lead at 67-56. The Mustangs would hit another 3-pointer before calling a timeout with 19 second left in the game. UMD would follow with one of their own. Olson would score a free throw out of the timeout. SMSU would call a timeout to follow. Olson would grab another free throw before closing out the game with a 70-59 win.
 
Rhoades would finish with six points, shooting 100% (2-2) on the afternoon. Olson would score 23, grabbing six rebounds, with one assist and steal while shooting 57.1% (8-14). Thiesen would score 10 in the win, grabbing three rebounds, shooting 42.9% (3-7) with five assists and one steal. Kahl would drop nine points, grabbing one rebound with a 50% (3-6) with one block, steal and assist. Simonet would score 11 with three rebounds, two steals and shoot 33.3% (2-6) on the afternoon. Grow would score three with four rebounds, three steals and four assists.
 
Bulldogs play next on Dec. 21 against St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.