BELLINGHAM, Wash. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball struggled from the floor to open the Lynda Goodrich Classic on Friday evening. The Dragons shot just 25.4 percent for the game and fell to 21st-ranked Western Washington 63-43.
MSUM would open the game on a 6-2 run thanks to baskets from
Natalie Jens and
Terryn Johnson. Western Washington would even the score at eight points apiece near the midway point of the frame. The Vikings would open up a lead behind a short 5-0 run before
Tori Ratz would answer with a three-pointer. Johnson would hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds of the first quarter, but Western Washington would lead 17-13 after one frame. MSUM would shoot just 31.2 percent through 10 minutes.
The second quarter would see the home team score six consecutive points to push their lead into double figures. Trailing 23-13, Washington native
Olivia Skibiel buried a needed three to give the Dragons some offense.
Ashley Fritz would pour in five points in a short stretch to cut the Western Washington to lead to one point (23-22). MSUM would remain within a point midway through the quarter before the Vikings made a late run. Western Washington would outscore MSUM 8-2 in the final five minutes of the half to lead 33-25 at the break.
MSUM would struggle from the field in the frame, shooting just 28.6 percent from the floor in those 10 minutes. Through the half, MSUM shot just 30 percent on their field goal attempts. While Western Washington would shoot just 39.4 percent in the half, the Vikings would hit six of 14 three-point attempts to retain the lead.
The Dragons would begin the second half with a continued struggle from the field. MSUM would fall victim to three turnovers through three minutes of play with the Dragons missing their first five field goal attempts. As the quarter wore on, Western Washington would establish a 41-26 lead. A score from
Bailey Keske would give MSUM its first field goal of the half with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Western Washington would lead 47-34 after three quarters as the Dragons shot just three of 14 in the stanza with four turnovers.
Through four minutes of play in the final quarter, MSUM had missed their first three field goal attempts. On the other end, Western Washington would connect on their first four attempts to push the lead to 57-34. Keske would net an and-one out of a timeout to give the Dragons their first field goal of the quarter. From there, Western Washington would control the scoreboard through the final buzzer, winning 63-43. The Dragons shot just 25.4 percent from the floor in the game, making just 15 field goals.
Top Dragons
Up Next
MSUM (0-4) is back in action tomorrow to conclude their efforts in the Lynda Goodrich Classic. The Dragons match up with Central Washington at 6:30 p.m.
