MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead women's basketball saw their three-game win streak fall at the hands of Southwest Minnesota State on Friday evening. The Mustangs won their eighth straight contest in a 74-61 affair against the Dragons.
Southwest Minnesota State would open the first quarter with a flurry of offense that stifled the Dragons. The Mustangs scored 19 points to MSUM's nine in the frame as the visitors connected on 41.2 percent of their shot attempts. Of those attempts, four of the makes were long range shots as MSUM struggled from the floor, making just four of 16 attempts in the same stretch. While the Dragons would shoot an improved percentage in the second quarter, SMSU would continue to keep a sizable lead thanks to their three-point shooting. The Mustangs made over 50 percent of their attempts in the second period with an additional three long range shots. MSUM shot just two of 10 from deep in the first half as they trailed 42-24.
MSUM, who had been strong on the glass over the last six games, were outmuscled by the Mustangs in the first half. Southwest Minnesota State held a 24-17 rebound advantage in the first half including six offensive rebounds, leading to 13 second chance points. In the half, SMSU held its largest lead of the game at 23 points near the end of the first half. The Dragons shot just 10 of 31 from the field in the first half.
While MSUM's offense would pick up in the third quarter, SMSU's advantage proved to be too sizable. That, coupled with continuous long range shots from the Mustangs, made it difficult for the Dragons to make up any ground. Southwest Minnesota State connected on five of nine three-pointers in the third quarter and would hold a lead as large as 22 points late in the frame. The Mustangs scored 23 points in the quarter to MSUM's 19 as the Dragons would make six free throws in those 10 minutes to provide some needed offense.
Some sense of normalcy unfolded in the final 10 minutes of play as the Dragons would outscore the Mustangs 18-9. MSUM held SMSU to a zero for seven clip from long range in the period and would make 53.8 percent of their shots. Much of this came thanks to both
Abby Berge and
Ashley Fritz, who continued to battle throughout the game on both ends of the floor. Ultimately, it would not be enough to overcome 12 made three-pointers from the Mustangs and four players in double figures. The spirited final 10 minutes closed the gap slightly as SMSU would win 74-61.
In the loss,
Abby Berge collected her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The true freshman made six of her 10 field goal attempts in the game. Fellow freshman
Ashley Fritz was also efficient with her offense once again, scoring 11 points on four of nine shooting and a pair of three-pointers.
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons have now had six straight separate three-game winning streaks snapped:
- Tonight's setback vs. Southwest Minn. State
- Two different three-game in the 2022-23 season
- Two more in the 2020-21 season
- Had a three-game win streak end at Wayne State Jan. 17, 2020
The last time the Dragons have won at least four straight games was when they won their first six games of the 2019-20 season.
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Up Next
MSUM (5-9, 5-4 NSIC) is back inside Nemzek Fieldhouse tomorrow evening as the Dragons host Sioux Falls at 5:30 p.m.
