The University of Minnesota Duluth defeated Minot State University. The Bulldogs improve to 2-0 on the season and have now won six straight games against the Beavers, a win streak that started in 2018.

UMD had only nine active players for tonight's game as some of the team was quarantined after a Winona State player tested positive after the game against the Bulldogs on January 2nd.  

The Bulldogs started the game off slow, shooting only 38.9% (7-18) from the field and 0-7 on 3-pointers. They ended the first quarter only leading by 1, but they came out on fire in the second quarter. Junior forward Brooke Olson, UMD's leading scorer from last season, made back-to-back and one's and the team shot 4-6 on 3-pointers to get them back on track. 

UMD went into the half with a 39-29 lead.

The second half was the same story as the first, as the Bulldogs put up 44 points after halftime and only allowed MSU to score 36. Overall, UMD shot 50% (29-58) from the field, 45.8% on 3-pointers and scored 18 points off 20 MSU turnovers.

Sophomore guard Taytum Rhoades posted a career high 19 points, shot 3-4 on 3-pointers and grabbed five rebounds. Senior guard/forward Payton Kahl finished with a career high as well with 15 points on 4-9 shooting and was also a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Olson finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and three assists and junior guard Maesyn Thiesen finished with 11 points, four assists and shot 2-4 on 3-pointers.

After the game, head coach Mandy Pearson said, "We wish the fans were here, we miss them… It was nice to be back on our home floor."

The Bulldogs will play MSU at home again tomorrow (January 9) at 2pm.