ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Minnesota State Moorhead women's basketball could not find consistent offense to conclude the program's trip to the Pacific Northwest on Sunday. The Dragons fell to 21
st-ranked Western Washington to wrap the CWU D2 Tipoff Classic, 57-39.
The contest brought together two of the longest-tenured coaches in the sport in
Karla Nelson and Western Washington head coach Carmen Dolfo. Nelson coached her 730
th career game on Sunday with Dolfo logging her 1,016
th for a combined 1,746 games. The total has come over a staggering 63 combined seasons of basketball.
Both teams looked to find a rhythm in the early stages with neither gaining a true advantage. Moorhead had five players log a basket through 10 minutes, but the Dragons would trail 13-10. While MSUM forced six Viking turnovers in the first period, Moorhead connected on just four of 13 shot attempts.
The defensive battle would proceed into the second stanza as an
Aria Garrett basket pulled the Dragons within two points (17-15). However, Western Washington would close the half on a 7-0 run to lead 24-15. Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half, but Moorhead would shoot just 18.2 percent (6-33 FG) through 20 minutes.
Caylin Kelly led Moorhead with five points.
Early in the second half, Western Washington would build its largest lead of 14 points. Garrett and
Grace Massaquoi would chip away at the Viking advantage, bringing MSUM within nine points midway through the third quarter. Massaquoi would connect on a three-pointer to cap a 7-0 individual run, bringing the count to 32-26. Western Washington would extend its lead back to 10 points (38-38) by the end of the period.
Moorhead would get back within eight points early in the final quarter before Western Washington pulled away for good. The Vikings won the game 57-39 on a night where the Dragons struggled on offense. MSUM finished the game shooting just 24.5 percent (13-53 FG), including a two for 13 mark from long range. Massaquoi led the Dragons with 11 points on five of seven shooting.
Up Next
MSUM (2-1) will begin NSIC play next on Wednesday, November 11 in a 6 p.m. road meeting with Jamestown.
