The No.19 University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team ran away with a 77-50 win tonight over the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in the afternoon's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup, securing their sixth consecutive win.
Halftime: UMD (47) - USF (15)
The two teams would match each other very well to start off the matchup, staying within one point of each other through the first six minutes of the first quarter. Two successful Moorjani free throws would kickstart the Bulldogs to rattle off a run of 14 unanswered points to end the first and begin the second. Not too long after, a Hakamaki layup would start another run of 12 consecutive points for UMD, giving them a 33-8 lead with three minutes left in the second. In the final minutes of the half, UMD would outscore the Cougars 14-5, giving them a 32 point lead going into the intermission.
UMD would shoot 19-33 (57.6%) from the field, 3-6 (50%) from outside the arc, and 6-7 (85.7%) from the charity line to close out the first two quarters of the game. Nine personal fouls and 11 turnovers from the side of the Cougars would definitely prove to hurt their offensive momentum and to just five total field goals throughout the half.
Final Score: UMD (77) - USF (50)
A run of five unanswered points, two successful three point shots, and seven successful free throws through the third quarter would actually help the Cougars find some life, scoring more points in the quarter than they did through the entire first half. The already established lead by the Bulldogs however would be too much for USF to overcome as UMD would hold the Cougars at bay, matching their momentum and outsourcing them 17-14 throughout the fourth to secure another conference win.
UMD ended the night shooting 32-65 (49.2%) from the field, 4-15 (26.7%) from three point range, and 9-11 (81.8%) from the free throw line. The defensive effort of the Bulldogs would collect seven blocks, nine steals, and 41 rebounds to keep the Cougars to a 30.4% field goal percentage to end the game
Top Performers
Senior guard Taya Hakamaki and sophomore forward Lexi Karge tied for a game high in points, Hakamaki shooting 5-8 (62.5%) from the field and Karge shooting 6-12 (50%) and both coming up with 12 points total. Graduate student Taytum Rhoades shot 2-6 (33.3%) from the field and led the game with eight rebounds and five assists.
Looking Ahead
Women's basketball will make a stop in Marshall, Minn. tomorrow to take on the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs. Action for the Bulldogs will tip off at 5:30 PM.
