(MINOT, N.D.) – The Minot State women's basketball team fell in heartbreaking fashion at home this afternoon to the visiting Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. UMD and Minot State battled through the first four quarters and ended regulation tied at 67. The Bulldogs pulled away in overtime to win 81-75.
From the opening tip, the UMD offense was running on all cylinders with 26 points scored in the first period. The Minot State offense, however, was up to the challenge and had a 20-point quarter of their own.
In the second and third periods, the Bulldogs took control of the contest. UMD led by 11 at the halftime break and held on to a 12-point advantage after three. The start of the fourth quarter marked a turning point for MSU as the Beavers found a rhythm on offense and rallied back into the game.
Minot State's defense played sensationally in the final period of regulation. The Beavers outscored UMD 11-4 over the final five minutes of the fourth quarter and 21-9 in the period altogether.
The overtime period swung the pendulum in the opposite direction, though, as Minnesota Duluth regained control and led by as much as eight points before the final buzzer.
For the Beavers,
Mariah Payne had an excellent offensive game with 29 points and 10 assists, both were team-highs for the Beavers.
Calli Delsman and
Haley Hildenbrand also broke into double-digits in scoring with 17 and 11 points, respectively. Delsman cleaned up on the glass with a team-best 15 rebounds. The Beavers dominated on the boards as they outrebounded UMD 41-26.
UMD's offense was led by the duo of Ann Simonet and Katie Stark. Simonet netted 22 points going 8-of-9 from the field. Stark had 20 points of her own on 50% shooting from the field and 60% shooting from three. Simonet also had a team-high six rebounds and six assists.
The Beavers have now lost their tenth consecutive game and are 0-10 in the NSIC and 3-11 overall. The Bulldogs won their ninth game of the conference season and are 12-4 on the season.
Minot State will be back in action next weekend with two more home contests. Southwest Minnesota State will come to town on Friday, Jan. 17at 5:30 p.m. and Sioux Falls will take the floor on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 3:30 p.m.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Sports Information
Josh Van Valkenburg-Gernert.
