Duluth, Minn. – The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs hosted the Sioux Falls Cougars on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs shot over 50% from the field and three-point range as 5 players were in double-figures as they went on to win 76-66. They improve to 16-4 (14-2) on the season. 
 
The Bulldogs began the game with a three-pointer on the opening possession from Ann Simonet. From there, both teams began the game hot from the offensive end as they traded baskets over the first few possessions. A Cougar three-pointer gave them a 13-10 lead at the first media timeout with 4:43 remaining in the quarter. Out of the media timeout, both teams traded baskets from the offensive end of the floor. After back-to-back stops, the Bulldogs managed to take a 17-15 lead thanks to a Madelyn Granica three-pointer. Granica hit another three-pointer down the stretch to extend the Bulldog lead to 20-15. Teams once again traded baskets towards the end of the quarter as the Bulldogs took a 22-20 first quarter lead. The Bulldogs shot 8-12 (66.7%) from the field and 4-6 (66.7%) from three-point range. The Cougars shot 8-19 (42.1%) from the field and 2-4 (50%) from three-point range.
 
Brooke Olson started the scoring for the Bulldogs with a layup to begin the quarter. Granica followed that up with yet another first half three-pointer. Despite the Bulldogs hot shooting, the Cougars responded with hot shooting of their own as they managed to keep pace with the Bulldogs. Teams traded back-to-back possessions of made three-pointers as the Bulldogs maintained their 35-32 lead with 4:39 remaining in the half. Both defenses stepped up down the stretch and both offenses struggled to get anything going down the stretch. The Bulldogs maintained their lead as they took a 40-35 lead into halftime. Brooke Olson and Madelyn Granica lead the Bulldogs with 11 points each in the first half as the Bulldogs shot 6-9 (66.7%) from the field and 3-3 from three-point range. The Cougars were led by Krystal Carlson with 13 points and Megan Fannin with 11 points as they shot 6-15 (40%) from the field and 2-4 (50%) from three-point range in the second quarter.
 
The second half began with both teams once again trading baskets as neither team neither team could pull ahead early. The Bulldogs managed to slowly inch their way ahead after a Taytum Rhoades layup gave the Bulldogs a 48-41 lead with 5:18 remaining in the quarter. Kaylee Nelson followed it up with a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 3 point lead as they led 51-41. Nelson went on to hit another three-pointer to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the night as they led 55-43 with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter. The Bulldogs stayed hot throughout the end of the quarter as they took a 60-47 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs stayed hot as they shot 6-10 (60%) from the field and 2-4 (50%) from three-point range. The Cougars shot 4-13 (30.8%) from the field and 0-4 from three-point range in the third quarter.
 
A Brooke Olson layup and a Kaylee Nelson three-pointer started the scoring for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter. Despite the quick start, the Cougars battled their way back into the game as they got the Bulldogs lead down to 10 points as they trailed 67-57 with 6:29 remaining. The Cougars continued to battle their way back into the game as they got the Bulldogs lead down to 6 points with 4:49 remaining. The Bulldogs responded with back-to-back baskets as they managed to extend their lead back to 10 points. The Cougars responded right back and continued to battle their way back as they cut their deficit down to 5 points as they trailed 71-66 with 44.5 remaining. From there, the Bulldogs managed to close out the game from the free-throw line as they won the game 76-66. The Bulldogs shot 5-13 (38.5%) from the field and 1-4 (25%) from three-point range in the quarter. The Cougars shot 7-17 (41.2%) from the field and 1-3 (33.3%) from three-point range in the quarter.
 
The Bulldogs had five players score in double-figures, led by Brooke Olson with 18 points. Maesyn Thiesen added 12 points while Madelyn Granica and Kaylee Nelson added 11 points each off the bench. Sarah Grow also added 10 points on the night. Overall, the Bulldogs shot 25-44 (56.8%) from the field and 10-17 (58.8%) from three-point range. They also shot 16-20 from the foul line.
 
The Cougars were led by Krystal Carlson with 23 points while Megan Fannin added 19 points. Dallie Hoskinson added 9 rebounds on the night to lead the Cougars. Overall, the Cougars shot 25-64 (39.1%) from the field and 5-15 (33.3%) from three-point range. They also shot 11-15 from the foul line.
 
Who's Next:
The Bulldogs will be back home next weekend as they will host Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday February 4^th. They will then host Northern State on February 5^th for Senior Day.