UMD Women's Basketball's Dominant Performance Secures 80-65 Victory Over UMary
The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team showcased their prowess with multiple season-highs in their seventh consecutive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) triumph, defeating the University of Mary 80-65.
Lexi Karge led the scoring with 17 points, an impressive 66.7% shooting accuracy (8-12) from the field, and one successful three-pointer. She also contributed seven rebounds, two assists, and a block. Close behind were Claire Bjorge and Myra Moorjani, each scoring 13 points. Moorjani's exceptional performance included five steals, matching a season high with Ashley Fritz.
In the first quarter, Karge, Grace Counts, and Moorjani dominated the game, scoring 13-2 in the initial four minutes, establishing a 13-2 lead over the Marauders. Despite the Mary offense's improvement, the Bulldogs outscored them 16-11 for the remainder of the quarter, with Moorjani and Bjorge each contributing five points, resulting in a 29-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs maintained their lead throughout the second quarter, with an even 10-10 scoring run, extending their advantage to 39-23 with 4:56 remaining. However, a remarkable effort from Karge, Counts, Fritz, and Vanessa Bickford resulted in 13 points, securing a 52-39 lead at halftime. This quarter marked their highest shooting accuracy at 66.7% (24-36) from the field.
After the break, Mary found their offensive rhythm, outscoring the Bulldogs 26-16 in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 14 points. Despite Mary's 11-point effort, Moorjani, Frist, Bjorge, and Bickford combined for 12 points, preventing a comeback. The final score was 80-65, securing the Bulldogs' seventh consecutive NSIC victory.
The team's overall performance was impressive, with 47.9% field goal accuracy (34-71), 11.8% three-point shooting (2-17), and 66.7% free throw accuracy (10-15). They dominated the paint with 60 points, outshining the Marauders' 26 points.
The Bulldogs will return to the road after the holiday break, facing Bemidji State University on January 3rd. The game will commence at 3:30 p.m. inside BSU Gymnasium.
