Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. - Five Dragons scored in double-digits in MSUM's 98-92 victory over the University of Mary Marauders this Saturday night at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. This win brings the Dragons to 11-9 overall, 8-8 in the NSIC, while the Marauders drop to 15-6 overall, 12-5 in the NSIC.
The Dragons started the game on a 10-2 run, highlighted by
Kaycee Charette's three point shooting and
Angie Jetvig's post play, that had all the premonitions of what would define MSUM's offense for the game.
“We attacked them in the post, and tried to get their posts in foul trouble, and did a pretty good job of that,” said Coach
Karla Nelson. “So the first half was an inside-oriented half. The second half, both teams forgot about their interior play, and did a really nice job of hitting some threes.”
Jetvig just missed her ninth double-double, scoring 19 points with 9 rebounds and 7 assists, while
Megan Strese provided a perfect complement off the bench scoring a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Much of the Dragons' success came when they were moving the ball effectively, as the team posted 24 assists on the night.
“I think they were just trying to take our post play away,” commented guard
Brittany Mayclin. “Our inside play has been strong, as every team wants to take away
Angie Jetvig, and that's what has left our outside game open for the shots. When they were there I took them, and they decided to drop tonight.”
The Dragons were very impressive from the three-point line, shooting 7-for-8, 87.5%, for the first half, and 11-for-17, 64.7%, for the game.
“I think as a team we are coming together,” Mayclin said. “We're just clicking. We're seeing that we are able to make inside and outside shots.” This was evident just past the half-way point of the second half, when Mayclin inbounded the ball to Strese, who tipped it in the air back to Mayclin in the corner for an open 3-point basket.
“Certainly when you share the basketball, and when the game is as wide open as it was in the second half, the points were not a problem,” said Coach Nelson. “But it's certainly nice when you can go to your bench and get some scoring from your bench.”
The Dragons needed help from their bench, as the Marauders cut into what was a 23-point lead for the Dragons off a
Marisa Yernatich three-point basket just over 11 minutes in the second half. U-Mary was able to bring the game within 3 points with just over a minute remaining, but the Dragons were able to use the clock to their advantage and secure the victory.
“It's not going to get to our heads, because we are middle of the pack right now,” commented Coach Nelson about their six-game winning streak. “This team does a nice job of focusing only on the game at hand.”
MSUM finished the game 31-for-62, 50%, from the field, 11-for-17, 64.7%, from three, and 25-for-29, 86.2%, from the free throw line.
U-Mary shot 30-for-64, 46.9%, from the field, 13-for-29, 44.8%, from three, and 19-for-28, 67.9%, from the free throw line. The Marauders had four players score in double digits: Ali Collins (26), Lindsey Sand (13), Kayla Schmidt (12), and Linda Murray (10).
The Dragons will spend the next two weeks on the road, traveling to Duluth next Friday for a 6:00 game, and Bemidji on Saturday with a 4:00 tipoff.
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game: Under
Karla Nelson, MSUM has never finished below .500, either overall or in the NSIC. The last time the Dragons finished below .500 was 1999-2000 under Coach Jean Roise, when MSUM went 8-19 overall and 7-11 in the league.
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