The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team fell to the University of Mary 76-66 for their third Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) loss of the season.
Leading the effort for the Bulldogs was
Myra Moorjani with 15 points, shooting 33.3% (4-12) from the field, 50% (2-4) beyond the arc, and 62.5% (5-8) from the free throw line. She also tallied two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Entering the match, UMD jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first four minutes by the effort of
Claire Bjorge (4),
Lexi Karge (2),
Maria Counts (2), and
Karly Jusczak (2). UMary climbed back ahead by the 4:05 mark as a staggering seven-point effort by Bergen Kinnebrew helped bring a 15-14 lead over the Bulldogs. Jusczak and Karge combined to take back the lead on a 6-2 scoring run to put the score at 20-17.
Both defenses picked up in the second quarter as both teams mustered only four points to have a 24-21 Bulldog lead with five minutes to go. Over the next three minutes, it looked like a six-point effort from Moorjani would break the close score as the Bulldogs pulled out to a 30-24 lead. However, the Marauders responded with a 9-3 scoring run, overcoming
Grace Counts lone three-pointer to tie the game at 33-33, into the halftime break.
After the break, both teams remained on even footing through the first five minutes on a 10-10 scoring run for a 43-43 score. A 10-9 scoring run by UMary looked to hold the lead at 53-52 with under a minute to go, but a three-pointer from Moorjani lifted a Bulldog lead at 55-53 into the fourth quarter.
The Marauders broke open the fourth with a 13-3 scoring run with Karge being the only Bulldog to score. With five minutes remaining, UMD couldn't overcome the UMary scoring effort as the Bulldogs only put up eight more points between Moorjani (2), Karge (2),
Vanessa Bickford (2), and Bjorge (2) for a final score of 76-66.
Overall, UMD struggled across the court, shooting 36.4% (24-66) from the field, 19% (4-21) beyond the arc, and 66.7% (14-21). No first and fourth-quarter three-pointer attempts made it in, going 0 for 10. The Bulldogs were out-rebounded by the Marauders 44-36. Jusczak led the individual rebounding effort with nine rebounds (one offensive).
UMD heads to Minot State University on Saturday for its second matchup of the season. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. inside the MSU Dome.
