Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. --  Senior forward Morgan Zabel tied a career-high with 24 points to lead the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team to an 83-53 rout of  Valley City State in nonconference action Monday night at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM improved to 4-0 on the year with the win.

Zabel finished 9-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range for the Dragons. She added eight rebounds. Senior forward Megan Strese had her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore forward Heather Strese had a career-high 12 points to go with a career-high seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Meghan Roehrich had 10 points, reaching double figures for a third straight game. Senior guard Haley Thomforde and freshman guard Natalie Van Wyhe had five assists each.

The Dragons shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) while holding the Vikings to just 36.4 percent (20-of-55). MSUM held a 43-28 edge in rebounds in the contest.

MSUM faced an 18-17 deficit with 10:46 left in the first half but outscored the Vikings 26-9 to close the half to take a 43-26 lead into halftime. Zabel led the way with seven points during the run while sophomore forward Savanna Handevidt had six. Thomforde and sophomore Jessy Noreen each drained threes.

The Dragons shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the first half, compared to 31.0 (9-of-29) for the Vikings.

In the second half, MSUM steadily pulled away, leading by as many as 33 points on its way to the 30-point win.

Thomforde added eight points, two blocks and two steals for the Dragons, while Handevidt had seven points and seven rebounds. Nine Dragons scored in the game.

MSUM plays host to Northern State at 4 p.m. on Saturday to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons only committed nine turnovers tonight which was their lowest total in a home win since beating Michigan Tech 70-66 on Nov. 22, 2008. The Dragons were guilty of only nine turnovers that night as well.