The University of Minnesota Duluth Women's basketball program topped Northern State University in the first Quarterfinal of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Sanford Health Tournament on Sunday afternoon 79-71. The Bulldogs move on to the Semifinals with a 25-5 record while the Wolves finish their season at 14-16.
 
UMD would finish shooting 42.2% (27-64) on the day, hitting nine 3-pointers, grabbing 30 rebounds with 18 assists. NSU would shoot 43.6% (24-55) on the afternoon, scoring seven 3-pointers with 42 rebounds and 19 assists.
 
Sophomore forward Brooke Olson would strike first for the Bulldogs, dropping in a quick layup and would follow it up with a bucket from beyond the arc for a quick 5-0 lead. The Wolves would drain one from deep three minutes in for their first score of the game, but junior guard Ann Simonet would respond with a layup. NSU pulled ahead heading into a media timeout, taking an 11-7 lead with 4:42 remaining. Senior forward Katie Stark nailed a 3-pointer to pull UMD within one. NSU would pick up steam with two free throw makes and a long 2-pointer. After the first quarter, the Bulldogs would trail 18-12. The Wolves would score first in the second quarter with a short jumper, but Simonet would respond with a layup. Northern found another short jumper just seconds later. Heading into a media timeout, UMD would trail by 10 at 28-18. NSU put up two free throws out of the break, but Simonet would make two of her own on the other end. Freshman guard Taytum Rhoades would make two free throws with just under three minutes in the half. Simonet would score an in tight jumper to pull the Bulldogs within single digits with NSU responding right back. Olson nailed a jumper from deep to pull UMD within five with just under a minute in the half. The Bulldogs would trail the Wolves heading into half 34-29.
 
Simonet would finish the half with 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and two steals. Olson dropped eight, grabbing three rebounds with one steal. Rhoades grabbed four points with a rebound and a block. UMD would shoot 33.3% (9-27) from the floor with three baskets from beyond the arc.
 
Olson dropped a layup to open the second half and followed it up with a short jumper to pull the Bulldogs within one. Stark gave UMD the lead with a bucket beyond the arc just shy of two minutes in. Stark would put a layup in, giving the Bulldogs a 5-point lead. Junior forward Sarah Grow would grab a short two points, forcing NSU to take a timeout trailing 44-37. The Wolves would score out of the break for a quick two. Junior guard Payton Kahl scored a layup before Simonet nailed a shot beyond the arc. The Bulldogs would take a 53-46 lead into the fourth quarter. Senior guard Taylor Schneider hit a three to open the fourth quarter. Simonet would nail a 3-pointer shortly later to give UMD an 11-point lead. Heading into a media timeout, the Bulldogs would lead 65-59. Simonet would score out of the break with a short jumper with the Wolves draining a three shortly after. Simonet would make a layup and draw a foul, scoring the and one to give the Bulldogs an 8-point lead with just under three minutes to go. Kahl nailed a shot from deep to extend the lead to nine with a minute and change in the game remaining. She also made two free throws shortly after, and would take to the line seconds later, making two shots. UMD would hold on to the lead, fending off the Wolves for a 79-71 victory.
 
Simonet would finish with a career high 28 points on the day, grabbing eight rebounds with five assists and six steals. Olson would score 16 on the day, grabbing three rebounds with one steal. Stark scored eight, dished one assist, had two steals and one block. Kahl scored nine with three rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Grow finished with eight, blocking one with one assist.
 
The Bulldogs move on to the Semifinals of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament, playing Minnesota State University on Monday at 5:30 PM.