MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team came alive in the second half to earn a 66-41 victory against Valley City State University in the season opener Tuesday night.

The Dragons started the game missing a few shots allowing the Vikings to score the first points.  After four missed three-pointer opportunities, Marisa Yernatich sank one from behind the arc to put the Dragons on the board.  Sadiqah Jihad scored at the 16:20 mark to give the Vikings their biggest lead of the game at 8-3.  MSUM held VCSU scoreless over the next three minutes to take the lead off a Morgan Zabel jumper. 

Limited turnovers and solid defense built the Dragons lead to eight; its highest point in the first half.  At that point, 2:10 remaining, Amber Huntington took a pass from Brittany Mayclin to hit a three.  Free throws from Megan Strese and Angie Jetvig wrapped up first half play for the Dragons, who held a 31-24 lead.

Haley Thomforde started scoring for the half which would prove to be a high scoring one for MSUM.  Thomforde grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Yernatich three and scored to make the Dragons lead double-digits for the first time.  With 15 minutes left in the half, Kaycee Charette blocked Allison Scherr's shot resulting in a made jumper from Jetvig down the court to make the score 39-29.  The score difference would not go under double-digits for the rest of the game. 

The Vikings' Kelsey Hunter knocked down a jumper with 9:41 remaining to cut the Dragons' lead down to 13.  Again the Dragons would build the lead, hitting a 20-point differential off Zabel's only three of the night.  Katelyn Rolsten would answer with a jumper for the Vikings to make the score 53-35.  Three offensive rebounds on the next Dragons possession allowed Zabel to hit a shot with 6:29 left in the game. 

The Dragons wouldn't look back as they went on an 11-4 run to close the game out.  Emily Palmer hit a three-pointer for the last Dragon points.  The lead was extended to its highest point for the game at 29.  10 second chance points and nine points off turnovers in the second half allowed the Dragons to pull away and earn the first team victory of the season. 

Leading scoring for all players was Jetvig with 21 points.  With 15 rebounds she notched her 11th career double double.  Thomforde followed Jetvig with 11 points, four rebounds and three steals.  Strese scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.  Zabel recorded eight points and five rebounds. 

The Dragons out-rebounded the Vikings 35-24 and turned 13 offensive rebounds into 14 second-chance points.  The home team forced 21 turnovers on the night, which turned into 20 points.

The next action for the women's team will be in Billings, Mont. as they will take part in the MSU Billings Tournament.