The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team took care of business Friday night, defeating the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles 67-45 on the road. No. 6 UMD improves to 6-0 (5-0) in the NSIC.
UMD would trail for all of ten seconds before busting out of the gate in the first quarter, in what was nearly a wire to wire victory for the Bulldogs. UMD dominated the glass on the night, out-rebounding the Golden Eagles 46-33. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 25-61 (41.0%) from the field and 5-15 (33.3%) from beyond the arc on the night. UMD's defense was impressive as well, holding the Golden Eagles to 15-56 (26.8%) shooting on the night from the field and 5-19 (26.3%) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs also forced 16 UMC turnovers.
Junior forward
Brooke Olson and senior forward
Sarah Grow led the way in the point column and on the glass for UMD. Olson finished just shy of a double-double with 20 points, nine rebounds, one block, and one steal. Grow recorded her second double-double of the season recording 12 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Junior guard
Maesyn Thiesen led the Bulldogs with six helpers. Thiesen would also finish with seven points and three rebounds.
The UMD bench would again play a role in Friday night's contest. Four Bulldogs came off the bench and contributed with ten or more minutes played. Sophomore guard
Taytum Rhoades played 18 minutes and scored three points. Freshman guard/forward
Ella Gilbertson played 17 minutes, recorded seven points and tallied five rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Sophomore
Kaylee Nelson played 11 minutes, recorded five points and tallied one assist. Sophomore guard/
forward Madelyn Granica would play 10 minutes and record three points. In total, the Bulldogs' bench would outscore the Crookston bench 24-18.
"Our team is enjoying being on the road again," said head coach Mandy Pearson. "I loved our defensive effort tonight."
The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will conclude their two-game weekend series tomorrow in Crookston. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
