MOORHEAD, Minn. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball dropped a home NSIC contest to Minnesota Duluth on Friday evening. The Bulldogs forced 20 Dragon turnovers in a 78-64 win.
The teams would work out to a 6-6 tie in the early stages of the first quarter. MSUM opened the game shooting three of seven and missed a trio of good looks from long range. However, four points from
Terryn Johnson would pace the Dragons in the first five minutes of play.
Ashley Gustavson would nail a three just out of the media timeout to give the Dragons a 9-6 advantage. From there, Minnesota Duluth would go on a 7-2 run to push in front 13-11. The visitor's lead would carry through the first 10 minutes with the Bulldogs leading 17-13. Johnson had six points in the frame.
Both teams would keep pace with one another in the second period as the Dragons would connect on 50 percent of their shots in the quarter.
Tori Ratz would drain a baseline three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining in the half to even the contest at 26 points. From there, the team would trade punches as the Bulldogs held a 34-33 lead. Johnson led all scorers in the first half with 10 points while also adding seven rebounds. The sophomore hit five of her six shot attempts in the half.
A spirited third quarter would break out as the Bulldogs would push their lead to as many as seven by the midway point of the frame.
Abby Berge and
Maya Metcalf would collect some needed baskets for the Dragons in an attempt to keep pace. However, Minnesota Duluth would push the lead to 10 points behind three consecutive turnovers as the quarter dwindled. MSUM would be plagued by seven turnovers in the period and would trail 58-47 after 30 minutes.
The Bulldogs would continue to control the scoreboard as the fourth quarter unfolded. Minnesota Duluth would bring their lead to 16 points early in the period (68-52). MSUM would only attempt one field goal through the first three minutes of play in the period with two more turnovers.
By the midway point of the final quarter, MSUM had only attempted three field goals. Yet, the Dragons would make eight of 10 free throws in the same stretch with the Bulldogs still leading 71-57. The Dragons would shoot just three of 10 in the period with Minnesota Duluth taking the contest 78-64
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
Abby Berge averaged 4.6 points and 3.6 rebounds during the Dragons' 0-7 start. Since then, she is averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 boards per contest.
Top Dragons
Up Next
MSUM (6-10, 6-5 NSIC) will play inside Nemzek Fieldhouse tomorrow afternoon as they host Concordia, St. Paul at 3:30 p.m.
