The University of Minnesota Duluth started their holiday breakt with a win over the St. Cloud State Huskies 64-59. The Bulldogs improve to 9-3 on the season, while staying undefeated in Nothern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at 6-0. The Huskies fall to 6-4 on the year, holding a 3-3 NSIC record.
 
UMD shot 48.9% (23-47) on the afternoon, grabbing five steals, two blocks and 39 rebounds while SCSU shot 38.7% (34-62) with 11 steals, one block and 25 rebounds.
 
Play would start with SCSU winning the tip-off, unable to score on the ensuing drive. Sophomore forward Brooke Olson would drop a quick layup going the other way. After junior guard Ann Simonet would foul, the Huskies would put up two, followed by a deep 3-pointer to take a 5-2 lead. After the two squads would go back and forth and three minutes, SCSU would grab a 2-pointer to take a five point lead at 7-2. They would follow by grabbing a rebound off a shot from Olson, and follow up with a 3-pointer. The Bulldogs would take a timeout to try and regain themselves. Sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen would take to the line after taking a foul, scoring both to pull UMD within six. The Huskies would go the other way and score a layup. Senior guard Taylor Schneider would drain a 3-pointer to follow. After the teams traded possessions, junior forward Sarah Grow would score a layup and draw a foul, making the third point on the play. After SCSU would grab a layup of their own, Olson would score a 3-pointer to pull UMD within one at 14-13. The Huskies would drop two free throws, finishing out the first quarter at 16-13 in favor of SCSU.
 
After a quick break, UMD would open the scoring with a layup from Theisen, followed by Olson grabbing one of her own to help the Bulldogs take a 17-16 lead. After Simonet grabbed a defensive rebound, she would dish one to Olson who would grab yet another layup on the afternoon. The Huskies would grab a 3-pointer to tie things at 19 a side. After each side would turn over the ball twice, UMD would score a quick 2-pointer from Thiesen. The Bulldogs would drop in a layup from senior forward Katie Stark to take a four point lead at 23-19. Stark would grab a missed 2-pointer from SCSU and Simonet would capitalize with a 2-point jumper on the other end. The Huskies would follow by scoring a layup of their own to pull within four. SCSU would grab a pair of layups off a pair of misses from the Bulldogs. Simonet would grab a two point lead from a layup of their own at 27-25. The Huskies would tie things at 27 off a short jumper. Olson would feather a layup in with 1:13 left on the clock before SCSU would score one of their own, keeping pace. The score would be knotted at 29 a side going into half.
 
After a miss from SCSU, Olson would score her 13^th point of the day with a layup. The Huskies would follow with one of their own. After an SCSU foul, junior guard Payton Kahl would split the free throws. Stark would drop a layup of her own to put UMD up by three. After a media timeout, Grow would land a layup of her own to the Bulldogs up 36-31 before the Huskies scored off a deep 3-pointer. SCSU would follow with a layup to tie things at 36 off of a defensive rebound. The Huskies would grab a steal before calling a timeout with 3:28 left in the third quarter. Freshman guard Taytum Rhoades would score a layup for the Bulldogs, taking the lead with 2:14 left in the quarter at 38-36. Grow would finesse one of her own in to grab a four point lead. SCSU would put up a 2-point jumper off a Schneider turn over. Simonet would drop a 2-point jumper before the quarter would finish, 42-38 in favor of UMD.
 
The Huskies would drop a layup to open the fourth frame, pulling within two. Kahl would split two free throws, grabbing a three point lead for the Bulldogs. After SCSU split a pair of free throws, the teams would trade possessions and almost four minutes of scoreless play before Olson would drop a short jumper to put UMD up 45-41. The Bulldogs held off the Huskies for the ensuing drive to score a deep 3-pointer from Simonet. UMD would call a timeout with 5:25 remaining in the game. Simonet would score a quick two out of the break, followed by a Husky miss, Stark would make a layup of her own. SCSU would score a 3-pointer before Grow would put up a jumper for two of her own. The Huskies would score a layup with 1:57 left of the clock and a 54-46 Bulldog lead. After getting the ball back, SCSU would call a timeout at 1:14. The Huskies would drain a 3-pointer to pull SCSU to within five at 54-49. Thiesen would drain two free throws with a minute left in the quarter, and the Huskies would follow with a 2-pointer. Thiesen would score two more free throws before SCSU would drain a deep 3-pointer before UMD would call a timeout with 31 seconds left in the game. Grow would score two free throws of her own to put the Bulldogs up 60-54 with 29 left. After Stark would split a pair of free throws, the Huskies would drop a layup, leading Simonet to score one before SCSU dropped a 3-pointer with four seconds left, before fouling Thiesen who would go 1-2 from the line, closing out the game with UMD winning, 64-59.
 
Rhoads finished with two points and two rebounds. Thiesen would drop nine points, grabbing two rebounds, one assist and three steals. Olson would drop 15 with five rebounds. Kahl would score two with one rebound. Simonet would score 13 with six rebounds, two assists, shooting 50% (5-10) from the floor. Grow scored 11 with nine rebounds and one block and assist. Stark would score seven with 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Schneider finished with five points, grabbing three rebounds and three assists.
 
The Bulldogs take a weekend off before returning to Romano in Duluth, Minn. to host Bemidji State on Jan. 3.