Box Score Duluth, Minn. – Marissa Yernatich, who grew up 2 miles from Romano Gymnasium, led all scorers with 19 points in a 84-77 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday night. This win brings the Dragons to 12-9 overall, 9-8 in the NSIC, while the Wolves drop to 13-8 overall, 10-7 in the NSIC.
Five Dragons scored in double-figures, led by Yernatich's 19, followed by
Haley Thomforde scoring a new career high 17 points,
Angie Jetvig with 16, and
Megan Strese and
Kaycee Charette each with 10.
During the first half, the Dragons had 20 points from the bench in the first half, with 13 of them coming from Thomforde who led all scorers for the half. Thomforde went on a 7-0 run of her own, hitting a step-back field goal with her toes on the three point line. On the next possession, Jetvig dribbled the baseline, and while falling out of bounds found Thomforde open for three, tying the game 27-27.
With just over 3 minutes remaining in the game, MSUM pulled away with an 11-point run. Out of a timeout,
Brittany Mayclin found Jetvig on the inbounds, who then found Strese cutting to her left for a layup and a hard foul. Strese converted the three-point play for a 66-65 Dragon lead.
One minute later, Mayclin dribbled around the far side of the court drawing in the UMD defense, and was able to find Yernatich jumping up and down in the corner near the Dragon bench who drained the open 3-pointer for a 74-65 lead.
The Bulldogs would not cede the game, as UMD forced a jump-ball turnover on the Dragons, where Courtney Doucette hit the three off the inbounds shrinking MSUM's lead to 76-70. After a pair of Jetvig free throws, the Dragons turned over the inbounds allowing a Bulldog layup and a 78-72 Dragon lead with just over 40 seconds left in regulation. However, despite five quick points for the Bulldogs in just under 10 seconds remaining, Yernatich hit two free throws to assure the Dragons' victory.
Reminiscent of the earlier games during the Dragons losing streak this season, turnovers were problematic for the Dragons, committing 7 in the first 10 minutes of the game, with 21 for the game.
MSUM finished the game 27-for-47, 57.4%, from the field, 7-for-10, 70%, from three, and 23-for-26, 88.5%, from the free throw line.
UMD shot 28-for-74, 37.8%, from the field, 9-for-23, 39.1%, from three, and 12-for-16, 75%, from the free throw line. The Bulldogs had four players score in double-figures: Katrina Newman and Doucette each with 15, while Shelly Stemper and Emma Van Winkle each had 10.
Tomorrow night the Dragons travel to the Glas Fieldhouse at Bemidji State University for a 4:00 pm start.
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game: Marissa Yernatich appeared in her 75th career game tonight in her native Duluth, Minnesota. She has attempted a 3-point field goal in every game except February 4, 2011,
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