MARSHALL, Minn. – MSU Moorhead women's basketball closed the 2023-24 regular season in style on Saturday evening with a gritty 70-66 win over Southwest Minnesota State.
The Mustangs would nail four early three-pointers in the first quarter to build a 12-3 lead on the Dragons. MSUM would respond by going on a short 5-0 burst with baskets from
Terryn Johnson and
Ashley Fritz. Southwest Minnesota State would then hit their fifth three of the frame to push their lead back to seven points (15-8). The Mustangs would close the period on a 9-2 run and lead 21-10 after a quarter.
MSUM would rally to begin the second quarter as
Terryn Johnson scored six points in the first two minutes of play to make the score 25-18.
Abby Berge would make it a five-point contest on a pair of free throws shortly thereafter.
Karlee Fisher and
Maya Metcalf would each score to pull the Dragons to within one point midway through the period. After allowing five threes in the first period, MSUM held SMSU to a one of seven mark to begin the second quarter.
The Dragons would regain the lead following a four-point flurry from
Olivia Skibiel as time ticked in the first half. MSUM would lead 34-31 at the break led by eight points each from Johnson and Metcalf. The Dragons held the hot shooting Mustangs to a one of nine clip from long distance in the second quarter. On the other end, MSUM converted on 53.3 percent of their shot attempts in the same span.
Southwest Minnesota State would begin the second half on a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead, 41-36.
Natalie Jens would score nine points in the third quarter to keep MSUM within arm's reach. The Mustangs reloaded from deep in the frame, converting on five of 10 attempts. Fisher would connect on a three late in the period to even the score at 48 points. Through three quarters, Southwest Minnesota State led 51-49.
A three-pointer from Metcalf top open the quarter would keep the score to within two points (54-52).
Ashley Gustavson would show up a few possessions later, putting MSUM back in front 55-54. Gustavson would drill another massive triple to even the odds again with just over six minutes remaining. Southwest Minnesota State would gain a three-point lead (63-60) midway through the quarter.
The Mustangs would push that lead to six points and would hold a four-point lead (66-62) with just under two minutes remaining. While MSUM did a great job of limiting the home team on offense, unfortunate turnovers led to empty possessions for the Dragons down the stretch.
Natalie Jens would cut the deficit to two points with just over a minute left.
MSUM would get a major stop with 50 seconds remaining as
Olivia Skibiel would nail a three from the top of the arc. The make gave the Dragons a 67-66 lead with 45 seconds left in regulation. Gustavson would make one of two from the line to put the Dragons up two points with 23 seconds remaining. The graduate student would put the game on ice with three seconds left, hitting a pair of free throws to put MSUM up four points.
The Dragon defense would not allow another Southwest Minnesota State basket as MSUM would hold on for 70-66 win.
Top Dragons
Up Next
The Dragons (12-15, 12-10 NSIC) will enter the NSIC Tournament as the number eight seed and will host Winona State on Wednesday, February 28 beginning at 6 p.m.
