MOORHEAD, Minn. -- An all-around effort from freshman
Ashton Safranski helped propel MSU Moorhead women's basketball to a first-round victory in the NSIC Tournament on Wednesday. The Dragons defeated Wayne State College, 57-50.
Inside The Game
- MSUM would use defense to build out an early eight point lead, holding the Wildcats scoreless for the first four minutes of play.
- Four early points from Ashton Safranski paced the Dragons in the stretch with MSUM leading by 10 points late in the frame.
- Eventually, a late and-one from Natalie Jens, a three from Tori Ratz and a lay-in from Abby Berge gave MSUM a 16-point lead after one quarter (22-6).
- The Dragons held the Wildcats to three of 12 shooting through 10 minutes of action.
- MSUM would keep their lead in the same territory, leading by as many as 18 points after a bucket from Berge.
- Jens would splash home a triple off an assist from Safranski to put the Dragons up 20 points (40-20).
- After a swished triple from Karlee Fisher late in the quarter, MSUM had its largest lead of the game in 21 points (50-29).
- Wayne State would begin the final 10 minutes with an 8-0 run to cut into the Dragon lead.
- The Dragons would punch back with five straight points from Emily Srejma and Safranski, getting MSUM back up by 15 points.
- While the Wildcats would hold the Dragons scoreless for the final 3:37 of regulation, Wayne State would be unable to fully erase the deficit.
- MSUM won 57-50 behind 17 points from Safranski, who also finished the contest with nine rebounds, eight steals and five assists.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
Tonight was the Dragon's 19
th NSIC tournament win. Their first was a 75-57 victory here in Moorhead over Wayne St. on Feb. 27, 2002.
Up Next
MSUM (14-15) moves onto the Sanford Pentagon as they now take on second-seeded Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
