The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team earned its second program victory over the University of Jamestown after an overpowering 83-52 score, advancing them to a 15-4 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was
Myra Moorjani, who tallied her second over-20-point game of the season. She totaled 21 points, two steals, one assist, and four rebounds while shooting 53.8% (7-13) from the field, 44.4% (4-9) beyond the arc, and 100% (3-3) from the free throw line.
Claire Bjorge followed closely behind with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a team season-best of seven steals.
Entering the match, the Jimmies were able to keep pace in the first three minutes with the Bulldogs' lead at 11-7. Over the next five minutes, UMD scored an unanswered 11 points between Bjorge (4),
Maria Counts (3),
Lexi Karge (2), and
Ashley Fritz (2) for a 22-7 lead. The Bulldogs held the advantage at 28-13 as the Jimmies kept pace with their own six points.
The Bulldogs kept the pressure on in the opening five minutes of the second quarter on a 10-8 scoring run with Moorjani leading the effort with six points. Jamestown responded, outscoring UMD 8-2 to cut the lead down to 40-29 into the halftime break.
UMD continued their offensive rhythm after the break on a 13-4 run led by Moorjani (5), Bjorge (3), Karge (3), and Fritz (2). With the lead at 53-33 with under five minutes remaining in the quarter, UMD would hold Jamestown to six points while Moorjani (7) led the Bulldogs' 13 points to seal a 66-39 lead into the final quarter.
The remaining 10 minutes saw the Bulldogs cruise to their second program victory over the Jimmies, outscoring them 17-13 for a final score of 83-52.
Overall, the Bulldogs got out ahead in the first quarter, shooting 68.75% (11-16) from the field and 66.67% (6-9) beyond the arc. UMD narrowly led the overall rebounding battle with 35 to Jamestown's 31. Karge and
Vanessa Bickford led the rebounding effort with six rebounds each.
The Bulldogs host Northern State University on Saturday with tipoff set for 1:30 p.m. inside Romano Gymnasium.
