MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon basketball teams continue Northern Sun Conference play this Saturday, Dec. 10 against the University of Minnesota, Crookston. The women tip off at 4 p.m. with the men to follow.

DRAGON WOMEN
The MSU Moorhead women's basketball team defeated the Beavers of Bemidji State University 71-55 on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse moving their overall record to 4-2, they remain 1-1 in NSIC play.

The game started tight, and the score continued to bounce back a fourth. With only seven minutes left in the first half, the score sat tied at 20 apiece.  

After a missed jumper for the Beavers and a rebound by Megan Strese, Angie Jetvig got a layup to drop and sparked an 18-4 Dragon run. In the five and a half minute run, Jetvig had 9 of the teams 18 points.

With only 1:24 remaining in the first period the Dragons led the Beavers 38-24. Two three pointers by the Beavers closed out the half with a score of 38-30, in favor of the Dragons.

To start the second half Beaver guard Lauren Sagranski hit two free throws, reducing the Dragon lead to six. Junior guard Kayce Charette quickly answered this call by hitting a long bomb from behind the arc. The lead only continued to grow for MSU Moorhead and they eventually took the win 71-55.

Senior forward Angie Jetvig led the Dragons. She led all scorers and posted a new game high with 29 points and had seven rebounds. Megan Strese contributed 12 points and Haley Thomforde added seven.

CROOKSTON WOMEN
The University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagle women are also 4-2 and 1-1 in the conference. The spilt their opening weekend of NSIC play on Friday Dec. 2 and Saturday Dec. 2 against the University of Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State University.

After the Golden Eagles fell to the Bulldogs of Duluth 73-72 in an overtime battle, they came back victorious against the Beavers with a final score of 82-66.

In the game junior guard Brittani Wiese with 19 points, freshman guard Ashley Martell with 18 points and six rebounds and senior forward Megan Eul with 15 points and nine rebounds led UMC. Martell also hit five of the teams eight three-pointers.

The trio of Wiese, Eul and Martell lead the team in scoring with an average of 16.5, 13.5 and 10.5 points per game, respectfully. Eul is leading the team in rebounds per game with 6.5 and Wiese is on top with 4.8 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The Golden Eagles only boast two players over 6 foot, which will be no problem for forwards Jetvig and Strese.

DRAGON MEN
The Dragon men (6-0, 2-0 NSIC) faced a close battle in their last bout against Minot State University on Wednesday, Dec. 7. After being shut out 0-9 in the first four minutes of play, the Dragons were sparked by a Jake Lindfors field goal and went on a 12-0 run for a score of 12-9 half way through the first period.

The rest of the half stayed neck and neck with the Dragons largest lead of five coming after a Alex Novak dunk and a Lindfors layup with only three minutes of play remaining. But a half court buzzer beater by Minot's Adam Randall left the score 26-29 at the half in favor of the Beavers.

After one made free throw by Minot stand out Yonas Behre, the Beavers had a four-point lead to start the second period. The Dragons were able to answer quickly after a field goal by Novak and Lindfors, the score was tied up at 30.

 Both teams continued to be successful on both ends of the court throughout the remainder of the game. The Beavers and Dragons tied up the score 14 time throughout the game. The last tie was a score of 55 with 3:41 left in regulation.

The Dragons went on a 13-5 run to close out the game fueled by the team's big duo Lindfors and Novak. Charlie Chapman and DJ Hamilton each chipped in two free throws in the final attack against the Beavers making the final score 68-60.

The Papa John's Player of the Game Alex Novak led the Dragons with a double- double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jake Lindfors led the team in scoring with 17 total points and was one rebound away from a double-double as well with nine total boards.

Other contributors for the Dragons were senior guards DJ Hamilton and Charlie Chapman with 14 and nine points, respectively.

CROOKSTON MEN
The UMC men have gone 4-2 so far this season but still remain winless in conference action.

Their most recent game resulted in a victory for the team as they defeated Mayville State University 73-60 on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Despite a double- double outing of 22 points and 10 rebounds by Mayville standout Gus Kueber, strong play by the four UMC seniors led them to the victory.

Guard Akeem Cubie led the team with 19 points and eight reboubnds. Behind Cubie were guards Jacolby Anderson and Almir with Kardzalie with 18 points and 17 points, respectively. Forward Trent Graves rounded out the quartet with an additional 10 points.

Anderson currently leads the team in scoring with an average of 16.2 points per game; Cubie follows closely behind with 15.8 points per game. Kardzalie leads the team in assists and steals per game with 3.2 and 2.5, and junior forward Abdou Niang paces the team with 5.8 rebounds per game.

Baring many tall centers and forwards, the Dragon “Bigs” will face tough competition going into Saturday's game.