Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Despite a dominant performance from junior Megan Strese, a furious second-half rally came up short for the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team on Friday night as the Dragons fell to Mary, 81-79, in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference thriller at Alex Nemzek Hall in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 14-11 overall and 11-10 in the NSIC with the loss, while Mary improved to 17-10 overall and 12-9 in the league. Despite the loss, MSUM remains in position for a home game in the first-round of the NSIC tournament, as the Dragons are tied for third, and one game ahead of fifth-place Minnesota-Duluth, which beat Bemidji State on Friday. If MSUM wins on Saturday, it will host a first-round game on Wednesday.

Strese had a career-high 26 points and finished with 15 rebounds for her eighth double-double of 2012-13.  She was 12-of-16 from the free-throw line, also a career high.

Five Dragons scored in double figures overall. Senior Kaycee Charette and junior Morgan Zabel each had 12 points, while senior Marisa Yernatich and freshman Leah Miller each chipped in with 10 points. Miller's point total was a career-high. Junior Haley Thomforde had nine points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two steals.

MSUM lost despite a commanding 51-32 edge in rebounds, including 18-6 on the offensive glass. MSUM shot 39.1 percent (27-of-69) for the game, while Mary shot 45.2 (28-of-62).

The Dragons, who faced double-digit deficits in both half, were down 59-44 with 11:54 left before beginning their rally.  They outscored the Marauders 18-11 to cut the lead to 70-62 with 6:51 left.  Thomforde and Zabel paced the run with seven points each, while Strese had four.

MSUM was down 73-63 with 5:40 left but responded with a 12-2 run over the next 2:41to tie the game at 75-75.  Strese converted two 3-point plays during the run and had eight points.

While MSUM was able to tie the game -- the Dragons never led in the contest. Mary answered with a three on the ensuing possession after MSUM tied the game and never relinquished the lead.

A Zabel jumper with 50 seconds left brought MSUM within 80-79. Mary missed a shot, but got the offensive rebound with 17 seconds left. The Marauders missed both foul shots, giving the Dragons a chance to take the lead.

However, a runner by Zabel glanced off the glass and wouldn't drop. Mary hit 1-of-2 free throws on the other end with 2.5 seconds left, and a desperation shot by MSUM was well off the mark.

The Dragons trailed for the entire first half, including 31-15 with 8:03 left. But they battled back within 36-35 with a 20-5 run, capped off by a three from Yernatich, to cut the gap to one point. MSUM was down 38-35 at halftime.

Mary was able to re-build the league in the second half to 15 points before the Dragons made their valiant comeback which came up two points short.

MSUM hosts Minot State at 4 p.m. on Saturday to wrap up the regular season.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Current Head Coach Karla Nelson coached her 369th career game tonight against Mary; exactly one-third of the 1,107 games in the program's history. Before Nelson, the Dragons had a record of 344-394 (.466 winning percentage); with Nelson, including tonight's loss, the Dragons are 566-541 (.511 winning percentage) and Nelson is 222-147 (a .602 winning percentage).