The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team was dealt its fifth Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) loss by Northern State University in a 74-58 fashion Saturday.

Leading the effort for the Bulldogs was Claire Bjorge with 14 points, two steals, two assists, and two rebounds while shooting 66.7% (6-9) from the field and 100% (2-2) from the free throw line. Following close behind was Lexi Karge with 12 points, three steals, one assist, and four rebounds.

The Wolves were the first to 10 points, marking a 10-2 lead over the Bulldogs with Maria Counts as the lone scorer in the first five minutes. Ashley Fritz (4), Counts (2), Myra Moorjani (2), and Karge (1) led a nine-point run to trail 18-11 by the end of the quarter.

Northern State continued to hold off UMD on a 7-7 scoring run in the first five minutes of the second quarter. Before the halftime break, the Wolves expanded the lead over the Bulldogs on a 10-4 run for UMD to trail 35-22.

After halftime, the Bulldogs broke out on an 8-4 scoring run off the efforts of Bjorge (4), Karge (2), and Grace Counts (2) to chip the lead down to 39-30 with 4:52 to go. NSU broke ahead again to close the quarter with a 50-36 lead into the final 10 minutes.

An 8-8 scoring run held the Bulldogs at bay in the first five minutes. NSU continued the trend, closing with a 74-58 win over UMD.

Overall, UMD hit one of their lowest shooting percentages of the year in the second quarter, hitting 18.75% (3-16) from the field and 16.67% (1-6) beyond the arc. The Bulldogs were also out-rebounded 36-27.

UMD now holds a one-game lead over the University of Mary for the NSIC North Division title. The Bulldogs will face the University of Minnesota Crookston on the road on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Lysaker Gymnasium.