BEMIDJI, Minn. – A big night offensively helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team roll to a 102-50 throttling of Bemidji State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Bemidji, Minn. The win was MSUM's eighth straight, which is the Dragons' longest streak since winning eight straight in 2009-10.
MSUM is now 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC while Bemidji State fell to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in the conference.
MSUM shot 53.8 percent (35-of-65) for the game, including a blistering 12-of-20 (60 percent) from three-point range. MSUM broke the 100-point plateau for the first time since 2007 (see stat of the game below).
How it Happened…
Another fast start proved to be the difference for MSUM. The Dragons opened the game on a 19-5 run over the first 7:13, thanks to eight points from junior forward
Drew Sannes, four from sophomore guard
Jacky Volkert and a three-pointer from senior guard
Natalie Van Wyhe.
Bemidji State cut the lead to 19-11 late in the first, but MSUM opened the second quarter on a 15-2 run to push the advantage to 34-13. Thorson was the catalyst during that run with nine points. MSUM led 43-27 at halftime, thanks to 13 points from Sannes, 12 from Volkert and 11 from Thorson.
The Dragon offense scored at a torrid pace in the third quarter, hitting 12-of-17 three-pointers and outscoring the Beavers 36-18 to build a comfortable 79-45 advantage. The fourth quarter was more of the same as the Dragons outscored Bemidji State 23-5. The 59 second-half points were the most MSUM has scored in a half this season.
MSUM outrebounded Bemidji State 47-34 and held the Beavers to 26.9 percent shooting (18-of-67) from the field, including 6-of-32 (18.8 percent) from three-point range.
Impact Performances…
Sannes finished with 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting. That is just four points away from a career-high. She added eight rebounds and three blocks.
Thorson had 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting; she hit five 3-pointers in the win. Volkert had 16 points and 10 rebounds for her first career double-double while freshman forward
Megan Hintz had 12 points and seven rebounds in just 14 minutes off the bench.
Volkert led with five assists and three steals while Van Wyhe had four.
Junior forward
Shannon Galegher, making her first career start, had six points and five rebounds in 23 minutes. Senior guard
Jessica Hart had seven points.
Nine Dragons scored at least three points. MSUM hit 12-of-20 from three-point range (60 percent) and 35-of-65 (53.8 percent) from the field overall.
Up Next..
MSUM hosts Northern State in a key NSIC North showdown on Dec. 17 at 4 p.m.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game
Tonight's 102 points were the eighth most points ever and the first time the Dragons hit the century mark since their 105-57 home win over Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 20, 2007.
