The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team faltered against Concordia University St. Paul in the NSIC Tournament Semifinal round on Monday in 81-65 fashion inside the Sanford Pentagon.

A season-high, colossal 25-point effort from senior Myra Moorjani led the scoring effort for UMD. Across the game, she hit 66.7% (6-9) from the field, 50% (1-2) beyond the arc, and 92.3% (12-13) from the free throw line.

"Myra is always determined," said head coach Mandy Pearson. "And the thing that Myra has done this season, she's found a way to make her determination almost always go in a positive way."

Throughout the first two quarters, Moorjani was hitting 100% of shots across the court, including 3-3 from the field, 1-1 beyond the arc, and 4-4 from the free throw line.

"She's done a great job of finding that determination in a lot of games this season," said Pearson. "She plays at her pace, where she can be successful, and where she can help this team."

Entering the match, UMD fell behind 14-4 in the first five minutes as Moorjani and Claire Bjorge were the only ones score. CSP then continued a steady scoring pace to hold a 24-13 advantage by the end of the first quarter.

The Golden Bears continued to hold onto the lead in the second quarter as the first five minutes saw Moorjani (5), Lexi Karge (4), and Maria Counts (3) combine for a 12-8 scoring run to bring the Bulldogs within seven at 32-25. This was the closest UMD would get before halftime as CSP held on to a 10-point advantage at halftime.

With the score at 43-33, UMD cut the lead down all the way to six points by the 5:19 mark. The Golden Bears remained steady on a 10-9 scoring run to close out the third quarter at 60-53 with Ashley Fritz (5), Karly Jusczak (2), and Karge (2) keeping pace.

The fourth quarter saw the Bulldogs finally get within two points on an opening 5-0 run between Counts three-pointer and Moorjani's jumper. The 60-58 score was the closest UMD would come to CSP as they broke out to a 21-7 scoring run to eliminate the Bulldogs at 81-65.

Overall, UMD hit 40.4% (19-47) from the field, 39.1% (9-23) beyond the arc, and 94.7% from the free throw line. The Bulldogs were out-rebounded by the Golden Bears 33-20, losing nine rebounds on defense to CSP, and allowed 46 points in the paint.

This group of Bulldogs overcame being selected to finish third in the NSIC North Division, won the title outright, and then earned another NSIC Tournament Quarterfinal victory.

"I've been coaching for 20 years," said Pearson. "This was maybe the most progress I've seen from one year to another. This group found each other, gelled, and cared."

UMD now awaits the third week of NCAA Central Region rankings, with the NCAA selection show to follow this Sunday.