MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team dropped a 63-62 nailbiter to Northern State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.
Seniors Sarah Jacobson, left and Brookyn Liegel, right pose with Head Coach
Karla Nelson following Saturday's game.
MSUM dropped to 7-5 overall and 6-4 in the NSIC North with the loss while Northern State finished the season at 5-9 overall and 4-8 in the league.
Seniors Strong in Home Finale
Seniors Sarah Jacobson and Brooklyn Liegel were playing their final home game as Dragons on Saturday and led the Dragons in scoring. Jacobson had 14 points and hit a perfect 8-of-8 foul shots while Liegel had a season-high 12 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting.
Further Inside the Numbers
In addition to double-figure scoring from Jacobson and Liegel, sophomore guard Mariah McKeever had 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds and three steals. Junior guard Natalie Steichen had seven points, five assists and five rebounds.
MSUM shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53) for the game while Northern State shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52). MSUM was outrebounded 34-27.
Down to the Wire
There were nine lead changes and seven ties in the game and after MSUM opened a five-point lead (51-46) with 7:09 remaining on a pair of foul shots by junior forward Peyton Boom. The Wolves scored 10 of the next 15 points to take a 56-55 lead with 4:48 left.
MSUM held a 62-61 lead with 52 seconds left after Jacobson drained a pair of free throws. But Northern freshman Rianna Fillipi converted a layup with 12 seconds left to put the Wolves up 63-62. The Dragons had one last shot in the final seconds but it wouldn't fall as the Wolves held on.
First Half Run
MSUM went on a 7-2 run in the second quarter to stretch a six-point lead to 27-16 with 5:06 left in the first half. Liegel hit a three during that stretch while Boom and junior center Nicole Brown had baskets as the Dragons stretched the lead into double digits for the first time.
The Wolves cut the gap to 31-26 by halftime.
Home Record
MSUM finished the home season, which was abbreviated by COVID-19 protocols, with a 4-2 mark.
The Dragons will enter next week's NSIC tournament as the only program in the NSIC to qualify for all 22 tournaments since its inception in 2000. Wayne State and Winona State earned spots in the previous 21 NSIC Tournaments (along with the Dragons) until this season, but have been eliminated from postseason play.
Up Next
MSUM will compete in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament next week, with date, time and opponent to be determined.
