WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team led 36-29 at halftime, but No. 6 Central Missouri rallied in the second half for a 73-53 win over the Dragons in nonconference action Saturday at the Region Challenge in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
MSUM fell to 0-2 on the year while Central Missouri improved to 3-2.
 
Junior forward Peyton Boom and freshman guard Natalie Jens led MSUM with 15 points each. For Jens, it was a career-high. Boom led with six rebounds and two blocks as well while Jens collected three steals.
 
Junior guard Natalie Steichen had four assists.
 
Thanks to nine points from Boom and eight from Jens, MSUM built a 36-29 lead at the half. The Dragons shot 44 percent (13-of-29) in the opening half.
 
MSUM held a 44-39 lead after a Jens three-pointer with 4:31 left in the third quarter, but Central Missouri closed the quarter on a 16-6 run to take a 55-46 lead going into the final frame.
 
The Dragons went without a point for nearly six minutes in the second half, allowing the Central Missouri lead to grow to 61-46.
 
MSUM is off until Nov. 23 when it hosts Northern State to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.