WINONA, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon Morgan Zabel scored 15 second half points, but it wasn't enough to push her team over a very efficient Winona State University squad Saturday night in Winona, Minn.

The Warriors came out of the gates quickly, hitting a three and adding a another jumper after a Betsy Dickson layup to take an early 5-2 lead.

The Warrior lead would still be four points at the 16:42 mark until Dickson drained a three-pointer, cutting the lead to one, 8-7.

After two free throws from Megan Strese, the Dragons would take the first lead of the game, 9-8, with 15:24 left in the half.

That would be the only lead for the Dragons as the Warriors would kick off a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 24-11 lead at the 13:13 mark.

The Warriors would grow their lead to as much as 19 points in the first half, but the Dragon's Zabel would hit a pair of free throws at the end of the first half to take a 49-32 score into halftime.

The Warriors would continue to connect and grow their lead to 21 points with 9:30 left in the game, but Zabel would manufacture 15 second half points including scoring ten straight Dragon points.

Zabel's would add a basket and a free throw to help the  Dragons cut the deficit back to only seven points with 1:33 remaining, 79-72.

The Dragons were forced to foul and the Warriors would hit on all of their free throws to seal the 85-73 victory.  Zabel would record a career high 17 points in the effort.

The loss drops the Dragon Women to 9-6 overall and 6-5 in NISC play.  They will return home next weekend to face Concordia, St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.  That game is also Alumni Night and every alum wearing a red shirt to the game will receive a $1 admission.

BOX SCORE