The University of Minnesota Duluth notched its eighth straight win at Romano Gymnasium after a 77-49 victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston Friday night. The Bulldogs won their 17th Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest in convincing fashion as they sought out revenge for the loss the Golden Eagles handed UMD in January.

The 17 NSIC wins is the most in program history breaking the mark held by the 1999-2000 Bulldogs, who went 16-2 in conference play and captured their then-ninth league title at the time. UMD can also clinch a share of the NSIC crown with a win tomorrow and a loss by Minnesota State University Moorhead, who battles the University of Mary in Bismarch, N.D.

The Bulldogs, who are 9-0 against conference foes at home, had 11 players enter the stat sheet in the scoring department. Senior guard Sammy Kozlowski led all players with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Sophomore forward Sarah Grow knocked down 12 points while freshman forward Brooke Olson added 11 points from off the bench, which also led all reserve players. Bren Fox had 11 points to pace Minnesota Crookston. Pace had eight points in the first half but was held to just three points in the third and fourth quarters without making a basket.

The Golden Eagles didn't get off to the crazy lead it established in the previous meeting. UMD led by two after the first and carried a 36-28 advantage into the half. The Bulldogs responded raced out to 15 point lead minutes into the third as they started the half on a 7-0 run. Minnesota Crookston cooled off on offense as the Golden Eagles shot a mere 18 percent (4-for 22) in the second half. They were worse from downtown as they connected only twice on 14 attempts and went 0-for-8 in the second half. 

UMD shot 49 percent fom the floor as its defense stepped up to force 21 turnovers. The Bulldogs scored 20 points off those turnovers in the 10th game this season that UMD created at least 20 turnovers in a game. The Bulldogs also won the battle on the boards, outrebounding Minnesota Crookston 35-29. 

Kozlowski and sophomore guard Ann Simonet each tallied a game-high five assists. The duo has registered at least five assists in the same game over the stretch of the last three home games. Kozlowski broke the 400-collegiate assist mark tonight, as well, as the senior has 402 Bulldog assists. She is 27 assists from moving into the top-five for most assists in program history. 

Freshman guard Maesyn Thiesen made her first appearance after missing eight games with an injury. The native of Sauk Centre, Minn., played eight minutes and missed both of her three-point attempts.

The Bulldogs conclude the regular season tomorrow with one-final NSIC showdown with Bemidji State University. First tip is at 5:30 p.m.



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