The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team earned multiple season highs in their seventh straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) victory in an 80-65 win over the University of Mary.
The team earned season highs in field goals made (34) and steals (14). Leading the scoring effort was
Lexi Karge with 17 points while shooting 66.7% (8-12) from the field and making one of three beyond the arc. She also tallied seven rebounds (two offensive), two assists, and one block. Following close behind was
Claire Bjorge and
Myra Moorjani with 13 points each. Moorjani earned five steals to tie a season high with
Ashley Fritz.
Entering the first quarter, Karge,
Grace Counts, and Moorjani combined for a 13-2 scoring effort in the first four minutes to force a 13-2 lead over the Marauders. The Mary offense did pick up, narrowly being outscored 16-11 over the remainder, as Moorjani and
Claire Bjorge led the way with five points each for a 29-13 lead into the second quarter.
The Bulldogs continued to keep the Marauders in the rear-view mirror as the quarter opened up with an even 10-10 scoring run to maintain the UMD lead at 39-23 with 4:56 to go. However, a colossal effort from Karge, Counts, Fritz, and
Vanessa Bickford forced a combined 13 points to earn a 52-39 lead into the halftime break. This marked their first two quarters of shooting at a season-high 66.7% (24-36) accuracy from the field.
After the break, it would be Mary who found their footing on offense to go on a 26-16 run over the course of the third quarter to push back within 14 points. With the score at 68-54, Moorjani, Frist, Bjorge, and Bickford found room to combine for 12 points to hold off the Maruaders' 11-point effort. The score then settled at 80-65 for the Bulldogs' seventh straight NSIC victory.
Overall, the team hit 47.9% (34-71) from the field, 11.8% (2-17) beyond the arc, and 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line. The team combined for an impressive 60 points in the paint to overshadow the Marauders' 26.
The Bulldogs head back on the road after the holiday break on January 3rd to face Bemidji State University. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside BSU Gymnasium.
