MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team recorded its third straight win on Wednesday with a 65-51 victory over Valley City State at Nemzek Fieldhouse. The game was the home opener for MSUM.

MSUM is now 3-1 on the year.

How it happened…
The first quarter proved to be the difference in the game as the Dragons outscored VCSU 17-6. MSUM trailed 2-0 just 15 seconds into the contest before going on a 17-2 run over the next eight minutes to build a 17-4 lead. Junior guard Cassidy Thorson had 10 points during that run while junior forward Drew Sannes had four.

The Vikings cut the lead to 26-21 with 4:15 left in the second quarter but the Dragons scored the final seven points of the half — keyed by a three-pointer by freshman guard Maddie Erickson — to take a 33-21 lead into halftime. Thorson and Sannes combined for 19 first-half points for the Dragons.

The Dragons pushed the lead to 17 midway through the third and the lead never dropped below nine the rest of the game.
 
Impact Performances…
Sophomore guard Jacky Volkert paced the Dragons with 16 points while adding three assists and two steals. Thorson had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sannes recorded her third straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and also had three blocks.

Junior forward Shannon Galegher had six points off the bench, while freshman forward Megan Hintz had seven rebounds.  Erickson had five points off the bench.

Senior guard Natalie Van Wyhe had a game-high four assists.

Volkert finished 7-of-7 from the foul line.

Up Next…
The Dragons open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday at Northern State. Game time is 4 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game
Drew Sannes recorded her third consecutive double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds tonight. This marked the first time that a Dragon has accomplished this since Megan Strese went for 26-15 in a Dragons 81-79 loss in Moorhead versus the University of Mary on Feb. 22, 2013, Strese had 12-14 the next night in a 74-61 win over Minot State, then she registered 13 points and 14 rebounds against the University of Sioux Falls in the first round of the NSIC playoffs four nights later.