The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team has their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) tournament run come to a close, falling to the University of Mary Marauders in the semifinal round tonight.

Halftime: UMD (38) - UMary (43)

The Bulldogs scored the first bucket of the night from the line, and quickly put away another layup to get out to a 3-2 start. The Marauders would hit right back though with a 6-0 scoring run followed up by another five unanswered to take an eight point lead. UMD would spend the next minute of the game minimizing the deficit, using a Olson three pointer to string together seven points and get back within one. A Marauder three pointer would break up the UMD scoring as the two teams fell into an eventual stalemate, 4-4 in the score line to close out the final three and a half minutes of the first quarter.

Moving into the second quarter, both teams refused to give up any ground in scoring. Back to back buckets continued to be scored, with the longest scoring streak from either team being five points. The Marauders ended the quarter with a slight one point lead in scoring, extending their lead to five going into the intermission.

The Bulldogs kicked off the night shooting 16-29 (55.2%) from the field, 3-9 (33.3%) from outside the arc, and 3-9 (33.3%) from the charity line. The Bulldogs pushed the floor well, forcing nine turnovers out of the Marauders throughout the first half, and kept the score close shooting a strong 55.2% from the field. However they struggled to take advantage of their opportunities from the line and found themselves at -8 in the rebound count.

Final Score: UMD (75) - UMary (83)

UMD came out into the second half with a new energy, using a Granica three pointer to cap off six unanswered points through the opening minute and a half and take a one point lead. The two teams would continue to match each other, going 10-10 in scoring before the Marauders would collect a six point streak of their own to take back the lead. A successful trip to the line from Gilbertson and a Rhoades layup would minimize the damage, but UMary would get a trip to the line of their own to take a three point lead into the final quarter. 

A Moorjani three pointer would help create a 6-2 scoring run to up the quarter for the Dogs and exchange the lead back into their hands. The lead would switch between teams four more times over the next minute and a half, with the Bulldogs edging out the one point lead with five and a half minutes left to go. Seven unanswered points for the Marauders would give them the six point lead as time winded down, while the final efforts of UMD to regain possessions were stumped by successful free throws from the side of UMary.

UMD ended the night shooting 30-62 (48.4%) from the field, 5-19 (26.3%) from three point range,and 10-17 (58.8%) from the line. The Bulldogs were able to control the ball to their advantage, forcing 16 turnovers out of UMary with 10 steals while also tallying 18 assists. The Bulldogs were unable to control the rebound game, ending the night -12 in rebounds, while their struggles to capitalize from the line continued.

Top Performers

Graduate student Taytum Rhoades shot 12-21 (57.1%) from the field and 1-1 from the line for a team high 25 points, setting three new career highs in field goals made, field goal attempts, and points. Graduate student Madelyn Granica  shot 6-9 (66.7%) from the field, 1-3 (33.3%) from three point range, and 2-6 (33.3%) from the line for 15 points and a team high seven rebounds.

Looking Ahead

Women's basketball awaits the NCAA Division II selection show to see the fate of their season. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 10, at 9:30 PM.