SEARCY, Ark. — A cold-shooting night doomed the No. 17 Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team in a 56-45 loss to No. 19 Central Missouri in NCAA Central Region tournament action Friday night in Searcy, Ark.

MSUM finished the season at 24-5 while Central Missouri improved to 24-6.

Competing in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009, the Dragons endured a miserable shooting night, hitting just 17-of-57 (29.8 percent) from the field, including going 0-of-17 from three-point range.

The Dragon defense held Central Missouri to 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from the field, including 20 percent (5-of-25) from three-point range.  MSUM had a 47-37 edge in rebounds but also committed 18 turnovers to UCM's eight.

How it Happened
MSUM fell behind 10-5 in the first quarter but cut the lead to 10-9 by the end of the first quarter thanks to a layup by junior forward Drew Sannes with 1:29 left.

The Dragons were down 14-11 but went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter, with Volkert sparking that run with seven points, to take a 20-14 lead with 3:16 left in the half. MSUM led 22-20 at halftime with Volkert accounting for 14 first-half points.

MSUM went ice cold from the field to start the second half as UCM went on a 14-0 run over the first 5:28 to surge into a 34-22 lead.

The Dragons came back, closing the quarter on a 10-1 run to climb within 35-32 heading into the fourth. Sannes had six points during that run while Volkert had four.

The game stayed close throughout the fourth with MSUM moving within two (41-39) after a basket from freshman Morgan Ham with 7:29 left. The Dragons were within four (49-45) after a Sannes basket with 3:31 left, but would not score the rest of the game as the Jennies went on a 7-0 run to close out the contest.

Impact Performances
Volkert finished with 22 points on 8-of-17 shooting. She was 6-of-8 from the line. She also had six rebounds and two steals.

Sannes had 16 points and six rebounds along with three blocks.

Thorson led with nine rebounds while senior guard Natalie Van Wyhe had three assists.

Junior forward Shannon Galegher had nine rebounds off the bench.