MINOT, ND – Battling from behind since the middle of the second quarter, the University of Mary women's basketball team struggled shooting and on the glass in a 72-62 loss at Minot State University in the Northern Sun opener for both teams. Seldom more than a possession or two from tying the game or taking the lead, the Marauders shot only 31 percent and lost the rebounding battle 60-36 as their win streak was snapped at three.
Behind a 3-point play by
Gabbie Bohl and a 3-pointer from
Dani Williams, the Marauders (3-3 overall, 0-1 NSIC) grabbed a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Cassie Askvig stopped a 10-3 Beavers (4-1, 1-0) run with a jumper with under seven minutes left in the first half to give UMary a 20-19 advantage. It was the last time the Marauders played in front the rest of the game.
The Marauders entered halftime down 28-26 and trailed by as many as nine points in the second half before baskets by Bohl and a
Jordyn Jossart trey pulled the Marauders with 60-58 and 3:36 left in the game.
Unable to complete the comeback, the Marauders misfired on their next six shots with the Beavers grabbing the rebound on each miss. Also struggling offensively, Minot State managed just one free throw over the next 2:43. The Beavers bumped their lead to 63-58 on a Madison Wald layup with 53 seconds left. Wald soon added two more free throws before Holly Johnson hit a free throw and a layup to extend the MSU advantage to 68-58.
Lauren Rotunda posted two baskets for the Marauders in the final 18 seconds of the game but each time the Beavers responded, first by a layup from Wald and then a pair of free throws by Johnson.
Rotunda led the Marauders with 17 points and five assists. She also had five rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Bohl posted 12 points and seven rebounds.
Dani Williams hit four treys and scored 12 points. Askvig hit two treys, scored eight points and led UMary with 10 rebounds.
Kristal Flowers led the Beavers with 18 points and 21 rebounds. Wald and Johnson both contributed 17 points. Johnson also had six rebounds and four assists. Diondra Denton had 11 rebounds.
The Marauders shot 31.4 percent for the game to 38 percent for the Beavers. MSU turned its rebounding advantage into a 46-22 edge in paint points while UMary had an 18-10 edge in second chance points.
UMary starts a three-game home stand against Yellowstone Christian College on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 5:30 in non-conference play. The Marauders return to NSIC action when MSU Moorhead and Northern State University visit the McDowell Activity Center on Dec. 1-2.
#marauders#
