The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team has their comeback cut short in tonight's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup, falling to the Northern State University Wolves 70-81 in overtime.
Halftime: UMD (27) - NSU (40)
The Bulldogs started tonight's game off slow on the offensive front, being held to just three buckets from the field and getting outscored 8-19 through the first seven minutes of the game. A Moorjani three pointer within the final minute of the first quarter would help the Dogs outscore the Wolves 7-5 through those last three minutes and cut the double digit deficit to nine going into the second quarter. UMD would start to find their footing, connecting on two three point shots from Rhoades and Gilbertson through the second quarter. However, they still found themselves at a deficit going into the intermission.
UMD finished off the first two quarters tonight shooting 10-28 (35.7%) from the field, 3-10 (30%) from outside the arc, and 4-5 (80%) from the charity line. The UMD defense did a strong job creating opportunities for themselves, collecting four steals and a block throughout the first 20 minutes. However, the Bulldogs struggled to get things going enough on the offensive side of the ball to match the NSU momentum.
End of Regulation: UMD (70) - NSU (70)
The footing the Bulldogs started to find at the end of the first half would really shine through, starting off the second half with a run of nine unanswered points. The script of the game would seem to have mirrored itself from the beginning, with the Bulldogs holding NSU to just four buckets from the field throughout the third quarter and back within three at 50-53 at the end of the third. A Granica three pointer to start off the fourth and another with just under five minutes left would give UMD their first lead of the game, going up 60-58. The Bulldogs would look to slow the game down as they wanted to hold onto the lead and outscored the Wolves 10-9 down to the last seconds of the half, but a three point NSU buzzer beater would send the game to the Bulldogs first look at overtime basketball this season.
The Bulldogs finished out regulation shooting 13-26 (50%) from the field, 7-9 (77.7%) from three point range, and 10-12 (83.3%) from the free throw line. UMD found a resurgence in their offensive production through the third and fourth quarter, outscoring the Wolves 43-30 through the second 20 minutes.
Final Score: UMD (70) - NSU (81)
Despite seeming to find their groove in the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Bulldogs struggled to keep the momentum going. UMD did not score any points during overtime play, coming away with just one rebound and three steals during the final five minutes of the game.
Top Performers
Senior guard Taya Hakamaki led the team tonight shooting 5-9 (55.6%) from the field and 6-6 from the line for 17 points while also collecting four rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Graduate student guard Taytum Rhoades shot 3-20 (15%) from the field for 8 points while collecting four rebounds and team highs with five assists, three steals, and a block.
Looking Ahead
Women's basketball returns to Duluth next weekend to host Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State at Romano Gym. All the action for the Bulldogs will tip off on Friday, Jan. 26, at 5:30 PM.
