Senior forward Emma Boehm netted a career-high 22 points as the University of Minnesota Duluth is heading back to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., for the second time in three seasons after a 87-57 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Sanford Health Tournament.

The 87 points on Wednesday night was a season high output by the Bulldogs, who clinched their 20th win of the season. The last 20-win season by the maroon-and-gold came nine seasons ago in 2009-10 during Annette Wiles' second season at the helm of the Bulldogs.

UMD improved to 18-10 all-time in the tournament and 8-7 in the first round. The Bulldogs are also 4-1 in the NSIC Tournament against the Mustangs and 6-1 overall in postseason formats. 

Boehm was on fire tonight as she tagged her season- and career-high to open her final league tournament of her collegiate campaign. Boehm shot 9-of-14 from the field. The native Eden Prairie, Minn., sank four triples on the night and improved on her robust percentage from beyond the arc to a league-high 51.6 percent. Boehm was consistent all night as she had 11 points in each half. She had the shooter's touch late in the second half with three three-pointers as the game got out of hand.

The Bulldogs put up a season-high 32 points in the opening quarter as they shot 75 percent in the first 10 minutes. They led by 17 at the break, and led by a whooping 38 points late in the fourth. The 30-point win was the largest by UMD this season. A large part of that margin was the 26 points off turnovers by UMD. SMSU only had six points off turnovers.

The Bulldogs finished hitting 49 percent of their looks and assisted on 29 of their 34 baskets and they repeatedly found the open shooter. The 29 assists was the most by a UMD club this season.

Eight Bulldogs tallied dimes with junior forward Katie Stark and freshman guard Maesyn Thiesen each posting four assists. However, senior guard Sammy Kozlowski accounted for most of those assists as she facilitated the best offensive night by the Bulldogs this season. Kozlowski had 12 of those 29 assists as she tabbed a new season high and was one short of tying her career mark she set last season against St. Cloud State University.

Sophomore forward Sarah Grow compiled 16 points and a game-high three blocks while freshman forward Brooke Olson tallied 11 points and eight rebounds. Stark chipped in nine points and junior guard Taylor Schneider added seven more off the bench. The Mustangs' Jenna Borchers scored a team-high 21 points for the Mustangs. SMSU shot 27.7 percent for the game and 11 of its 18 made baskets were from deep. 

UMD will play Augustana University in the NSIC Quarterfinals on Saturday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. in the final quarterfinal game of the conference tournament.

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