MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead women's basketball would turn in a full 40 minute effort as the Dragons were effective on both ends of the floor in a 75-42 domination of Sioux Falls on Saturday evening.
The Dragons would jump out to a quick 13-6 lead in the early going as
Natalie Jens and
Terryn Johnson combined to score 12 of those 13 points. The Dragons pinpointed a matchup they liked with Johnson owning the paint and gaining some easy baskets early. On the defensive end, MSUM held Sioux Falls to just two of eight shooting as the MSUM defense would be energetic all game. By the end of the first period, Sioux Falls would trim that deficit to three points, trailing 20-17 after one quarter. The Dragons shot 57.1 percent in the first 10 minutes as Johnson scored eight points to lead MSUM.
In the second quarter, MSUM would own the floor, holding Sioux Falls to just three points throughout the 10 minutes of play. The Dragons held the Coo to just one of 12 shooting in the frame and 29.6 percent for the first half. On the other end, MSUM would connect on 46.2 percent of their shots in the second period as Johnson scored four more points to help lead MSUM. By half's end, MSUM led 34-20 behind a combined 22 points from Johnson and Jens. MSUM's defense forced 10 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.
MSUM's defense would continue to stifle Sioux Falls at the beginning of the second half. The Coo shot just one of six through the first five minutes of play as MSUM would make all seven of their field goal attempts.
Maya Metcalf would score seven points in the flurry as the Dragon lead ballooned to 26 points, leading 50-24. By the end of the frame, MSUM had held the Cougars to just two of 11 from the floor while making 10 of 15 shot attempts. Freshman
Abby Berge chipped in seven points down the stretch in the quarter as the Dragons would lead 61-29 after three. The Dragons outscored the Cougars 27-9 in the period.
From there, the fourth quarter continued to go MSUM's way as they outpaced Sioux Falls 14-13 in the final 10 minutes.
Maya Metcalf would net a career-high 15 points to lead the Dragons in scoring. MSUM shot an effective 54.5 percent from the floor in the game as they would hold Sioux Falls to just 26.9 percent shooting in the game. The Dragons forced 16 turnovers in the game, led by five steals from Jens. MSUM would return to normalcy on the glass, grabbing 39 rebounds to USF's 32. In the end, the Dragons held on for a decisive 75-42 victory.
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
Tonight's 33 point win was the largest margin of victory since their 76-32 home win over Upper Iowa Jan. 4, 2020.
Top Dragons
Up Next
MSUM (6-9, 6-4 NSIC) is back on the floor inside Nemzek Fieldhouse next weekend for a 5:30 p.m. contest with Minnesota Dultuh on Friday, January 19.
