BURNABY, B.C. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half before surging to trim that deficit to five points in the fourth quarter against Simon Fraser on Tuesday afternoon. However, the Red Leafs had a consistent answer all day, holding off the Dragons 83-70.
The two teams played a relatively even first six minutes as the squads were tied at 12 points each with time waning in the first period.
Natalie Jens scored seven of MSUM's 12 in the early going before the home team caught fire. The Red Leafs finished the first quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 21-14 lead into the quarter break. Both teams had similar field goal efficiency through 10 minutes, but Simon Fraser would force five Dragon turnover to flip the tides.
Simon Fraser would score the first five points of the second quarter to continue to solidify the lead. The Red Leafs would jump ahead by as many as 15 points before baskets from
Terryn Johnson and
Olivia Skibiel brought MSUM some needed offense. The teams would round out the half scoring at the same pace, but Simon Fraser's early defense helped them gain a 43-29 lead into the locker room.
The Dragons shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the second quarter compared to Simon Fraser's 60 percent clip. The Red Leafs also netted three long range shots and concluded the half with seven makes from distance. MSUM only attempted five threes in the half compared to Simon Fraser's 14 with the Red Leafs also forcing 11 Dragon turnovers. Jens paced MSUM with nine points as Johnson added eight points and six rebounds.
MSUM would begin the second half on a hot streak from the field, making four of their first five field goal attempts. Johnson and
Ashley Fritz added baskets in that stretch that was highlighted by a pair of threes from Skibiel. Despite the Dragons cutting the Simon Fraser lead to 10 points (51-41), the Red Leafs would continue to connect on their long range shots. Simon Fraser made their first three three-point attempts of the half to keep hold of the lead, 54-41. The Dragons would shoot a solid 47.1 percent in the period and would be able to get the deficit to single digits before quarter's end. Simon Fraser led 61-52 with 10 minutes to play.
The freshman Fritz would score a pair of baskets at the top of the fourth quarter to dwindle the Red Leaf lead to eight points. With just over six minutes left, MSUM had the Simon Fraser lead at five points following another score from
Terryn Johnson. The Dragon defense proved vital in the comeback attempts as MSUM held Simon Fraser scoreless for nearly three minutes early in the fourth frame.
Although the Dragons would limit turnovers in the second half (only committing two in the third quarter), three critical turnovers midway through the fourth helped Simon Fraser push the lead back to eight. With just under 90 seconds remaining, MSUM trailed by seven following another basket from Johnson. The sophomore picked up her first double-double of the year in the contest, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Simon Fraser would only answer the Dragons score with their 14
th three-pointer of the game. MSUM would not have enough to come back, falling 83-70 with the Dragons committing 19 turnovers in the loss.
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Up Next
MSUM (0-3) travels back into the United States for the Lynda Goodrich Classic on Friday and Saturday in Bellingham, Wash. The holiday tournament begins with the Dragons facing off with 21
st-ranked Western Washington at 9 p.m. Friday.
