The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team earned its first victory of the 2025-26 season in 81-63 fashion over Southeastern Oklahoma State University in round two of the GAC/NSIC Challenge.

The team was led by double-digit scoring efforts by Claire Bjorge and Lexi Karge both earning 15 points, with Vanessa Bickford following just behind with 12 points. Bjorge also tallied six rebounds, four assists, and four steals to round out a dominant outing.

The Bulldogs started strong in the first quarter, quickly establishing a lead with Karge's layup 32 seconds in. Bjorge was a key contributor, scoring multiple baskets, including a three-pointer at 8:48 to keep the lead over the Savage Storm at 5-2. The Bulldogs then kept the lead until five points by Abbie Barr put Southeastern Oklahoma over UMD at 11-10 with 6:09 to go in the quarter. Grace Counts' layup in the following possession put the lead back in the Bulldogs' favor for the entire quarter, where Bjorge, Karge, and Ahsley Fritz combined to take a dominant 25-11 lead into the second quarter.

Entering the second quarter, UMD did not let up, continuing to maintain a double-digit lead, rising all the way to 20 before halftime. The quarter was completed with a silencing three-pointer from Counts in the final ten seconds for a 47-27 lead into the break.

Again, the Bulldogs came out with fire, rising past the 20-point gap mark throughout the quarter. Counts, Karge, Reagan Krueger, Torie Neubauer, and Bickford combined for 17 points to keep the Savage Storm's 10 points well out of reach.

The fourth quarter saw the only time Southeastern Oklahoma outscored UMD 26-17. But this turnaround was not enough to overcome a consistent effort by the Bulldogs, ending with a final score of 81-62.

As a team, the Bulldogs earned a 43.1% field goal percentage and 34.6% from the three-point line. They also kept the ball out of the Savage Storm's hands with 10 steals to their seven and out rebounded them 41-35.

The Bulldogs continue the 2025-26 season on the road in Houghton, Michigan, facing the Michigan Tech Huskies. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.