WINONA, Minn. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball drained 13 three-point shots en route to a 75-62 road victory over Winona State on Friday evening. The Dragons had five players score in double figures in the victory.
MSUM moves to 7-11 overall and 7-6 in the NSIC with the win. The Warriors fell to 5-13 overall and 4-9 in conference play.
Winona State would jump in front by a score of 5-0 in the first two minutes of play as the teams settled in. Both offenses stagnated from there as the Warriors opened the game making three of seven shot attempts but turned the ball over twice. The Dragons struggled in the same stretch as
Terryn Johnson would score the lone field goal with MSUM starting the game one of eight from the floor. However, MSUM did have good looks at the basket in the span, but just could not convert them.
Ashley Gustavson would check in out of a timeout and immediately provide an offensive spark for MSUM. The grad student would can a three-pointer while being fouled. Gustavson would score again on the ensuing Dragon possession to even the count at seven points.
Nearing the end of the first period, Gustavson would catch a pass from
Tori Ratz and cast another long range shot which found paydirt. By quarter's end, Gustavson had scored eight points on three of three shooting, but the Warriors remained in front 14-10. Despite Gustavson's flurry, MSUM shot just four of 16 from the floor in the frame.
To open the second period,
Natalie Jens would hit a massive three-pointer with a driving assist from
Olivia Skibiel. The score from Jens answered a three-point play from Winona State on the previous possession. Jens would show why she has the best pivot foot in the NSIC a few possessions later with a patented up-and-under maneuver. That move, coupled with a Dragon press helped MSUM to come within one point, 20-19. The junior would only continue her onslaught with a hoop and harm on the next Dragon possession.
Ashley Fritz would give the Dragons a 24-22 lead midway through the period as he buried a three thanks to an extra pass from
Kaila Youngs. As the quarter dwindled, it was once again Jens who made a massive play. Beaver Dam's finest went up-and-under again and laid the ball in while getting fouled. Jens erupted in emotion and would go on to convert the one-and-one to put MSUM up 29-22
Jens would score 12 points in the quarter to help provide the Dragons a 31-24 halftime lead. The Dragons shot a much-improved 46.7 percent in the period. MSUM's defense would force eight Warrior turnovers in the half and would hold Winona State to two of 12 shooting from long range.
Terryn Johnson chipped in six points and four rebounds for the Dragons in the half.
MSUM would begin the second half with a stretch of hot shooting from long range.
Olivia Skibiel and
Ashley Fritz would notch three-pointers to put the Dragons up double figures. Fritz made consecutive threes to help MSUM push in front 42-31. Skibiel would find all net on another three-point attempt midway through the quarter to push the advantage to 48-32. Gustavson would drain MSUM's ninth three of the game shortly thereafter.
In the third period alone, MSUM made six threes headlined by Fritz's three for three clip. Winona State would switch to a zone defense to remedy MSUM's hot shooting. Through 30 minutes, the Dragons led 58-42 with four players (Jens, Fritz, Gustavson, Johnson) in double figures.
Between the third and fourth quarters, MSUM would hold Winona State scoreless for nearly five minutes. On offense, Skibiel would bury her third three of the game to give MSUM its largest lead of 19 points (61-42). The score also put Skibiel into double figures with 11 points on 50 percent shooting at that point.
The lead would prove to be substantial enough for the Dragons to hang on. While the Warriors would piece together a run late in the final period, MSUM would take the contest 75-62. The Dragons concluded the game with 13 made three-pointers, three shy of the single-game school record (vs. Minot State - 12/2/17).
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Up Next
MSUM (7-11, 7-6 NSIC) will travel to Mankato, Minn., for a 3:30 p.m. tilt with 25
th-ranked Minnesota State tomorrow afternoon.
