The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team topped the Northern State University Wolves on Saturday afternoon by a score of 56-39. UMD improves to 15-5 on the year while going 12-2 against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents. NSU falls to 11-9 on the year while going 7-7 against NSIC opponents.
 
The Bulldogs would shoot 40.4% from the floor, scoring four shots from beyond the arc, grabbing 34 rebounds and five blocks. The Wolves would finish shooting 23.3% from the floor, scoring two 3-pointers, grabbing 35 rebounds and one block.
 
UMD would open the scoring off a 3-pointer from junior guard Ann SImonet. The teams would go back and forth on miss shots before sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen would drop in a layup to give the Bulldogs a 3-point lead at 5-2. Heading into the first media timeout, UMD would hold a 6-2 lead. Sophomore forward Brooke Olson would score out of the timeout to extend UMD's lead to 8-2. After the Wolves would score two free throws, Thiesen would score a short jumper, followed by a layup by Olson. The Bulldogs would finish the first quarter with a 12-4 lead. NSU would score first in the second before junior forward Sarah Grow would score a layup. After the two sides went to battle, the Wolves would chip into UMD's lead, with the Bulldogs taking a 19-15 lead in the media timeout. Senior guard Taylor Schneider would drop her first two points out of the timeout with a layup. NSU would score a layup off of a missed free-throw to pull within four points with 50 seconds left in the half. UMD would take a 21-17 lead into halftime.
 
Olson would open scoring in the second half, making one out of two free-throws. Junior guard Payton Kahl would drain two free-throws before Olson would follow with a layup of her own. The Bulldogs would score the first five points in the half, with NSU taking a timeout with 8:23 left in the third quarter, UMD leading 26-17. The Wolves would score out of the timeout, putting a layup in tight. The Bulldogs would respond with a 3-pointer from Simonet. Heading into the first media timeout of the quarter, UMD lead NSU 31-21 with 4:36 remaining. Grow would head to the charity stripe after being fouled, making one of two. Olson would score a layup, but would foul on UMD's end to give NSU two free-throws, with the Wolves making both. The Bulldogs would take a 40-27 lead into the fourth quarter, with Kahl draining a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer. The teams would battle for possession, with Simonet scoring the first points of the quarter off of a layup, followed by Kahl draining two free-throws on the ensuing drive. The Bulldogs would take a 46-32 lead, calling a timeout with 5:43 remaining. The Wolves would take a timeout with 4:41 remaining, UMD leading 48-34. NSU would score five quick points out of the timeout, chipping away at the Bulldogs lead and pulling to 39 to UMD's 48. UMD would slow the place of the game and eat at the clock, with Thiesen scoring a layup with 2:06 remaining, Grow scoring with 1:22 on a short jumper. The Bulldogs wouldn't give ground, taking the contest 56-39.
 
Olson would finish with 13 points, grabbing seven rebounds with three assists and one steal. Grow would drop 12 points, grabbing four rebounds, one block and steal each. Simonet would score 10, grabbing seven rebounds with three assists and two 3-pointers. Kahl would score 10 as well, grabbing four rebounds with one 3-pointer, one block and steal each. Thiesen would score six, grabbing 10 rebounds with three blocks and two assists.
 
The Bulldogs continue their road stint next weekend, heading to Winona, Minn. to take on the Winona State University Warriors on Jan. 31.