ABERDEEN, S.D. -- To open the NSIC conference season, MSUM put on a spirited defensive effort on the road against Northern State. Despite some heroics from
Natalie Jens late in the game, the Dragons came up a basket short tonight in Aberdeen, losing to the Wolves 59-58.
The Dragons began the game ice cold shooting the ball, missing their first six shots from the field in the game. On the other hand, the Wolves started cold as well, starting the game two of 10 from the field.
Payton Bang came off the bench for MSUM and provided four points in the first quarter. Three-point field goals from
Natalie Jens and
Mariah McKeever gave the Dragons an early 12-6 lead late in the quarter. MSUM carried a 12-10 lead into the second quarter with Northern State shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes.
Both offenses continued to struggle into the second quarter. It took the Dragons six minutes to find their first field goal of the quarter, another three from Jens. With two minutes remaining, the Wolves held a 24-15 lead with MSUM shooting 21.7 percent. The Dragons were able to come alive offensively to close the quarter with baskets from
Olivia Skibiel,
Peyton Boom and a
Natalie Jens score as time expired. MSUM trailed 26-21 at half, but was able to up their field goal percentage to 29.6 percent. MSUM was outrebounded in the first 20 minutes 25-14.
A three-pointer from Skibiel and a basket from Jens helped the Dragons knot the score up at 30 midways through the third quarter. Jens found nothing but nylon again from three after the third quarter media timeout. That brought MSUM in front 33-30 after the Dragons had been trailing by as many as nine points. Outscoring the Wolves 18-13 in the quarter, the Dragons went into the final 10 minutes tied at 39 with Northern State. Jens had 15 points through three quarters.
The two teams would trade baskets back and forth to begin the quarter, neither team able to create space on the scoreboard. With the Dragons down four, it was once again
Natalie Jens who nailed a three to bring the Dragons within one point. Northern State made six consecutive free throws down the stretch to give the Wolves a 55-49 lead with just over two minutes left. A
Kaila Youngs three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining cut the Northern State lead to two. The Wolves would make a pair of clutch free throws to put the game out of reach. Although
Natalie Jens would hit a three with .6 seconds remaining, Northern State was able to hold on 59-58.
MSUM shot 35 percent for the game, but were outrebounded 41-32 by Northern State. The Dragons put in a spirited defensive effort, forcing 16 Northern State turnovers.
Top Dragons
The Dragons will have over a week off before they play again. MSUM will travel to Winter Park, Fla., for the Rollins College Thanksgiving Classic on November 25 and 26. MSUM is slated to open the classic against Rollins College with tip-off set for 2 p.m. from Winter Park.
