MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team took over sole possession of first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 72-56 win over Minnesota Duluth in action Saturday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM (21-5, 17-3 NSIC) now leads the Bulldogs (17-6, 16-4 NSIC) by one game in the league race with two games remaining as the Dragons aim for a third straight NSIC title and a fourth straight NSIC North title.The two teams were tied for first in the NSIC and NSIC North heading into the game but MSUM used a strong effort on defense and a good shooting night from 3-point range (8-of-15) to take the win.

Junior forward Megan Hintz had 18 points and 10 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season for MSUM. Senior guard Jacky Volkert had 14 points and six rebounds for MSUM in her final home regular season game. Sophomore guard Kiley Borowicz had 12 points while redshirt freshman forward Peyton Boom had 10 points and six rebounds. Junior forward Madi Green had 10 rebounds.

In a pivotal NSIC game, the second quarter was where MSUM was able to build a lead. UMD cut the gap to 21-20 early in the second but managed just six points over the final nine minutes of the quarter as the Dragons had a 17-6 edge during that time. The result was a 38-26 halftime lead for MSUM.  The Dragons held MSUM to 4-of-17 shooting in the second quarter, or 23.5 percent.

MSUM pushed the lead to as many as 22 in the third quarter and led 59-39 after three quarters. Hintz had nine points in the third quarter to lead the way. UMD got no closer than 15 the rest of the way.

Freshman guard Nicole Herbranson had eight points and four assists for MSUM, which plays at Minot State on Friday.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight marks the third straight season that the Dragons split a season series with Minnesota Duluth.