Box Score
ABERDEEN, S.D. -- Junior Megan Strese had 21 points and eight rebounds to lead the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team to a 66-54 win over Northern State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday night in Aberdeen, S.D.

MSUM (4-1, 1-0 NSIC) led 23-19 at halftime after both teams struggled shooting in the first half before pulling away.

Strese finished 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-11 from the foul line in the game.  Senior Kaycee Charette and junior Morgan Zabel added 10 points each for MSUM. Junior Haley Thomforde had five assists.

MSUM shot 43.1 percent for the game, including 56 percent in the second half, while holding the Wolves (4-1, 0-1 NSIC) to just 30.3 percent shooting on the night.

The first half was close the entire way and it stayed that way until the early moments of the second half. Leading 28-26, MSUM scored eight of the next 11 points to build a 36-29 lead with 15:11 left in the game. That spurt was keyed by five points from Charette -- including a three -- and three points from Strese.

The Wolves were within 38-34 before a 7-0 Dragon spurt pushed the lead to double digits over the next two minutes to build a 45-34 advantage.  Freshman Leah Miller sparked the run with four points.

The Wolves climbed within five on a pair of occasions and were within 60-54 with 46 seconds left in the game. But the Dragons iced the game from the foul line, as Thomforde, Zabel and Strese each went 2-for-2 from the line in the final minute to clinch the win.

Miller and senior Marisa Yernatich had eight points each for MSUM. Freshman Savanna Handevidt added eight rebounds.

The Dragons are back in action on Friday at Minot State for a 6 p.m. contest.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons have now beaten the Wolves in Aberdeen five times in their last seven meetings. The only two losses both came two seasons ago when Northern State won Feb. 4, 2011 in the regular season and March 2, 2011 in the NSIC playoffs.