HONOLULU, Hawaii – MSU Moorhead women's basketball won its second game in 'The Aloha State' on Friday as part of the Hoops In Hawaii Classic. The Dragons led the entire way, defeating UC Colorado Springs, 62-55.
MSUM would open the contest on a tear as they would hit on a 13-0 run to start the game.
Natalie Jens opened the scoring with a three-pointer before
Terryn Johnson connected on her first basket.
Abby Berge would convert an and-one in the flurry while
Karlee Fisher added a triple of her own. At the midway point of the quarter, MSUM had held UCCS to zero of six shooting and three turnovers.
Ashton Safranski led the Dragon defensive effort early on with a pair of steals.
The Mountain Lions would score their first points with just over three minutes to play but would only convert one field goal for the period. A
Tori Ratz corner triple helped MSUM finish the quarter on a 5-1 run, leading 20-5. Jens and Berge each had five points for the Dragons.
While UC Colorado Springs would start the second frame on a 5-0 run, it was Jens who continued to pace the Dragons. The senior scored to break a long scoring drought for MSUM, followed by her second three-pointer of the game. Jens' surge helped push the Dragons to their largest lead of 16 points (25-9). The Mountain Lions would answer with a needed 8-0 run to come within single digits again. However, Jens would respond with yet another triple. Johnson would close the half for MSUM with back-to-back baskets.
At the break, MSUM led 33-19 behind 13 points from Jens, including a three of four clip from long distance. Johnson and Berge added six apiece for the Dragons, who held UCCS to 6-25 (24 percent) shooting from the floor in the first half. The Dragons did a wonderful job stifling All-RMAC selection Maison White through 20 minutes, limiting the senior to no points (0-1 FG, 0-2 FT) and two fouls.
As UC Colorado Springs would bring the score within single digits early in the second half, Safranski scored her first points to give MSUM a spark. Safranski and
Ashley Fritz would go on to score MSUM's next six points, keeping the Dragons up 12 (41-29). Ratz would cash home her second three to keep MSUM's offense rolling. The shot sparked a 7-0 Dragon run to get the advantage back to 16 points. Berge would score MSUM's final six points of the quarter as the Dragons led, 50-38.
To open the fourth quarter, UC Colorado Springs would hold the Dragons scoreless for the first three minutes of play. The Mountain Lions flipped that into an 5-0 run to get the score to within five points (50-45). A lay-up from Johnson finally broke the scoring cold spell with just over six minutes to play. Halfway through the period, UCCS had the score within three points, 52-49.
Johnson would score again on a nice assist from Berge to give the Dragons some cushion with two minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Johnson would foul out shortly thereafter, leaving UCCS in a bonus situation. However, the Mountain Lions would miss two chances at the charity stripe with Berge scoring on the ensuing possession. While UCCS hit a quick triple on the next trip down, MSUM led 57-52 with 77 seconds to play. With 44 seconds left, UCCS would again miss a pair of freebies to keep the Dragons up six points (58-52). Berge and Fisher would clinch the game for the Dragons late, making four of six from the stripe. MSUM would win 62-55 and would not trail for the entirety of the game.
The Dragons are now 6-3 all-time in games played off the mainland in Hawaii.
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Up Next
MSUM (2-4) begins NSIC play next week as they host Northern State on Thursday, December 5 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
