ST. CLOUD, Minn. – In a true tale of two halves, the MSU Moorhead women's basketball team fell victim to a huge second half surge by the St. Cloud State Huskies on the final day of 2022. The Dragons lost 80-62 in their first contest in 21 days.
MSUM would balance their scoring in the early portions of the game with all five Dragon starters collecting at least two points in the first five minutes. This was highlighted by a driving lay-up from
Natalie Jens, who was fouled and would later complete the and-one opportunity. Jens would score a team-high seven points in the opening frame where the lead changed hands six different times. St. Cloud State nailed three three-point field goals in the quarter to lead 25-22 through one.
The Dragons would be down by as many as five points early in the second quarter, before the MSUM defense began to frustrate the Husky offense a bit. Baskets from
Peyton Boom and
Mariah McKeever would bring the Dragons to within one.
Terryn Johnson would notch her second field goal of the game midway through the frame to put MSUM in front once again. The Dragons would extend their lead to eight points late in the quarter thanks to two baskets from Boom and a three-pointer from McKeever. Boom had 12 points to lead MSUM into the locker room with a 41-34 lead. McKeever had nine points and six rebounds at half.
MSUM held a 24-15 rebound advantage through 20 minutes which included nine offensive rebounds. The Dragons would shoot 50 percent in the first half and only surrendered nine points in the second quarter. Entering the day with the NSIC's top defense, MSUM held the Huskies scoreless for over five minutes in the second period.
St. Cloud State would outscore the Dragons 20-7 in the third quarter to regain command of the scoreboard. The Huskies would bury three more three-point field goals late in the quarter to put them ahead 54-48 with one quarter to play.
The Huskies would grow their lead to as many as 10 points early in the final quarter and would not look back. While MSUM would outrebound St. Cloud State 36-34 in the game, the difference was the long range shot. The Huskies made eight three-point field goals coupled with 27 points from Katrina Theis and would come out on top 80-62. It is the first time this season that the Dragons have surrendered 80 or more points.
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The Dragons (6-4, 3-3 NSIC) travel to Duluth for a New Year's Day date with the Bulldogs tomorrow. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
