Bulldogs Dominate Mary, Secure Seventh Straight NSIC Victory
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The University of Minnesota Duluth women’s basketball team continued its impressive run, achieving a decisive 80-65 victory over the University of Mary and extending their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) winning streak to seven games. The Bulldogs showcased a dominant performance, setting season highs in both field goals made and steals.
Season-High Performance Fuels UMD Victory
The Bulldogs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, recording a season-best 34 field goals and 14 steals. Leading the charge was Lexi Karge, who delivered a stellar performance with 17 points, shooting an impressive 66.7% (8-12) from the field. Karge also contributed seven rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Close behind were Claire Bjorge and Myra Moorjani, each adding 13 points to the Bulldogs’ total. Moorjani’s defensive prowess was particularly notable, earning her five steals – tying a season high alongside Ashley Fritz.
First-Half Dominance Sets the Tone
The Bulldogs established a commanding lead early in the game. Karge, Grace Counts, and Moorjani combined for a 13-2 scoring run in the first four minutes, quickly building a 13-2 advantage. Despite a slight resurgence from the Mary offense, UMD maintained control, finishing the first quarter with a 29-13 lead.
The second quarter saw continued success for the Bulldogs, maintaining a consistent lead and extending it to 52-39 at halftime. This marked their most accurate shooting performance of the season thus far, with a 66.7% (24-36) accuracy from the field over the first two quarters.
Withstanding a Third-Quarter Challenge
The University of Mary mounted a comeback effort in the third quarter, going on a 26-16 run to narrow the gap to 14 points. However, the Bulldogs responded effectively, with key contributions from Moorjani, Fritz, Bjorge, and Vanessa Bickford to hold off the Marauders’ momentum.
Dominating the Paint and Looking Ahead
UMD finished the game shooting 47.9% (34-71) from the field, 11.8% (2-17) from beyond the arc, and 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line. A significant factor in their victory was their dominance in the paint, where they scored an impressive 60 points compared to Mary’s 26.
The Bulldogs will return to the road after the holiday break, facing Bemidji State University on January 3rd. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. inside BSU Gymnasium.