As the No. 8 seed, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team forced an 81-48 victory over the No. 4-seeded University of Central Missouri in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament second round.

The Bulldog defense found success holding the Jennies to 29.5% (18-61) from the field, 16.7% (3-18) from beyond the arc, and 64.3% (9-14) from the free throw line. Leading the way with double-digit points was Lexi Karge (16), Claire Bjorge (15), Myra Moorjani (14), and Ashley Fritz (10). Moorjani also led the team with three steals, while Karge led the team with three blocks.

Central Missouri was only able to tie the game in the opening two minutes after Bjorge opened the game with a quick layup 21 seconds in. The lead was gained again by Bjorge at the 7:16 mark, and from then on, the Bulldogs would only expand the lead. To end the first quarter, a combined effort from Bjorge, Vanessa Bickford, Karge, Fritz, Moorjani, Karly Jusczak, and Maria Counts forced a colossal 27-7 lead over the Jennies.

The Bulldogs continued the trend in the next quarter as Bickford, Karge, Moorjani, and Jusczak combined for a 47-22 lead, a 25-point scoring gap by the halftime break. UMD would then close the remainder of the game, holding an over 30-point scoring margin in one of the team's highest in NCAA postseason competition.



Overall, the team hit 54.5 % (36-66) from the field, 35.3% (6-17) beyond the arc, and 75% (3-4) from the free throw line to advance to head coach Mandy Pearson's second third-round appearance since taking over in the 2015-16 season. The last time the Bulldogs were in the third round was the 2022-23 season, where they closed up competition in the NCAA Finals.

UMD is set to face NSIC rival Concordia University St. Paul in the final NCAA Central Region matchup on Monday inside the Taylor Center.