The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team fell to the Minnesota State University-Moorhead Dragons on Friday night by a score of 56-51. The Bulldogs now carry a 14-5 record on the year, going 11-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Dragons are now 14-6 overall with a 9-4 NSIC record.
 
UMD would shoot 35.7% (20-56) from the floor on the evening, grabbing 32 rebounds on the evening with two blocks and eight steals, shooting 23.8% (5-21) from beyond the arc. MSU-M would shoot 37.9% (22-58) from the floor, grabbing 44 rebounds with one block and four steals, shooting 11.8% (2-17) from 3-point range.
 
Scoring would open in the contest from the Dragons to put up a short layup. MSU-M went on a 6-0 run after the Bulldogs would put in their first basket before UMD would be able to score again on a free-throw from junior forward Payton Kahl. The Dragons would carry a 10-7 lead into the first media timeout. UMD would tie things up from sophomore forward Brooke Olson dropping a 3-pointer with 66 second left in the first quarter. Freshman guard Taytum Rhoades would score a short jumper to give the Bulldogs a 12-10 lead heading into the first quarter break. UMD would score four out of the gate in the second, but the Dragons would answer with six of their own to tie things at 16 a side before MSU-M would regain the lead and take a 20-16 lead before UMD would take a timeout. Things would come to a tie with just under three-minutes remaining at 22 before the Dragons would score a short jumper, starting a four point run to gain a 26-22 lead before junior guard Ann Simonet would drop a layup in, followed by a two point jumper to tie things back up heading into the half.
 
The Dragons would open scoring with a quick five points in the third quarter before Olson would score UMD's first points. After MSU-M would gain a 33-28 lead, scoring would go quiet into the first media timeout. Senior forward Katie Stark would score a free throw out of the break to put UMD at a trail of four, the Dragons responding with a two on the other end of the court. The Bulldogs would score seven straight to tie things at 39 a piece, forcing the Dragons to take a timeout with 56.9 second left in the quarter. MSU-M would take a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter. The Dragons opened scoring with four points with Simonet responding with a 2-pointer of her own. Stark would score a deep 3-pointer after MSU-M scored two points, with UMD trailing by only 3 with 5:30 left on the clock. Simonet would score the tying basket with 4:30 left on the clock, the two squads taking the tie into a media timeout with 3:37 left. The Dragons took a 3-point lead with two minutes left, with UMD taking a timeout, 46.7 seconds remaining in the game. The Dragons would hit a 3-pointer with 16.7 second left in the game, taking a 55-49 point lead. Olson would score a layup with 13.0 left on the clock. UMD would ultimately fall short, losing to MSU-M 56-51.
 
Kahl would finish with four points with two assists. Simonet would score 13 in the effort, grabbing nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Olson would score 11, grabbing four rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. Stark would score 10, grabbing seven rebounds with two assists.
 
The Bulldogs will hit the road to Aberdeen, SD, to take on Northern State University tomorrow evening at 4 PM.