SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball suffered a setback in a 66-54 loss to Sioux Falls on Friday evening.
Sioux Falls would rush out to an 11-7 lead in the first quarter behind three long range shots early on. The Dragons would rally back midway through the frame behind baskets from
Maya Metcalf and
Ashley Fritz, cutting the deficit to four points. MSUM trailed by as many as eight in the first three minutes of play.
By the end of the quarter, the Cougars had nailed five three-pointers (on six attempts) and would lead the Dragons 22-10. MSUM would shoot 26.7 percent in the first 10 minutes compared to the 61,5 percent clip Sioux Falls registered in the same span. The Dragons committed six brutal turnovers in the quarter which kept the Cougars firmly in front.
Despite a three-pointer from Metcalf early in the second quarter, MSUM would trail 34-17 by the midway point of the period. Sioux Falls would hold the Dragons scoreless for over three minutes while continuing their hot shooting from the field. An and one from
Ashley Gustavson would break the draught for the Dragons with just over four minutes remaining.
The Cougars would drain their eighth three of the half as time waned in the first half to push the lead to 17 points (39-22). MSUM would continually sink into the lane on post touches, leading to easy three-point looks for the Coo. Through 20 minutes, Sioux Falls led 41-23 with Metcalf leading the Dragons with seven points. The Dragons shot 32.1 percent from the floor in the half as Sioux Falls would convert on 55.2 percent of their attempts (including a 61.5 mark from three).
MSUM would rally back on offense in the third quarter as back-to-back buckets from
Terryn Johnson helped the Dragons wake up. Gustavson would nail a pair of three-pointers with just under four minutes remaining to continue to trim the Sioux Falls lead.
Abby Berge would score five straight points, including a long range shot with under a minute to play to make the score 50-43. That score would hold firm through 30 minutes as MSUM only trailed by seven after falling behind by as much as 20 points in the third quarter.
The Cougars would stretch their lead out to 13 points once again midway through the final 10 minutes.
Natalie Jens would nail a three-pointer with just under four minutes remaining to cut the deficit to 11 points. Unfortunately for the Dragons, they would go scoreless for over two minutes following Jens' make. The junior would break the cold stretch, but it would still provide the Coo an 11-point lead with a minute remaining.
Gustavson would make her third triple of the game to put the Cougar lead back into single digits. However, it would only dent the Sioux Falls lead as the Cougars held on for a 66-54 victory.
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MSUM (11-15, 11-10 NSIC) travels to Marshall, Minn., to conclude the 2023-24 regular season against Southwest Minnesota State beginning at 3:30 p.m.
