BISMARCK, ND – Despite a furious fourth quarter rally and another Cassie Askvig double double, the University of Mary women's basketball team fell to visiting University of Minnesota Crookston 72-67 in the regular season finale for both teams.
 
The Marauders earned the sixth seed in the Northern Sun North division and will open the NSIC / Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament at the University of Sioux Falls on Wednesday, February 21. Game time against the Cougars, seeded 3^rd in the NSIC South, is 6 pm at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
 
The winner between the Marauders and the Cougars will advance to the NSIC quarterfinals on Sunday, February 25, at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD, against the winner of the MSU Moorhead / Southwest Minnesota State contest. The semifinals are Monday, February 26, with the championship game set for Tuesday, February 27.
 
UMary defeated USF 76-71 on the road February 2 in the lone game between the two teams this season as Gabbie Bohl posted 18 points and ten rebounds against the Cougars.
 


UMary jumped out to a quick 18-12 lead in the first quarter before a big second stanza pushed UMC to a 42-35 advantage at intermission. The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 60-43 before the Marauders made a late charge.
 
Behind a 16-6 run capped by a Lauren Rotunda 3-pointer, UMary closed within 66-59. Following a pair of Micaela Noga free throws for UMC, a Gabbie Bohl layup allowed the Marauders to stay within seven points with over four minutes to play.
 
Suddenly the Marauders went dry offensively, missing four straight shots before Bohl closed the gap to 68-63 with just over 40 seconds left in the game. UMC turned to the free throw line and hit 3-of-4 before a Rotunda layup pulled UMary within 71-65 with 21 seconds remaining. An Isieoma Odor free throw for UMC with 18 seconds remaining made it a three-possession game at 72-65 with too little time for the Marauders.
 
Askvig posted her tenth double double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The sophomore forward was 9-of-16 from the field and made all four free throws. She also had two blocks.
 
Bohl added 14 points and five rebounds with a pair of steals and blocks. Lauren Rotunda produced 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals while making 6-of-8 shots. Macy Williams also had 13 points as the freshman hit three treys. She had six assists and made 5-of-8 shots before fouling out.
 
Odor led all players with 25 points and 14 rebounds for UMC. Abby Guidinger posted 19 points off the bench and Caitlin Michaelis added 14, hitting 3-of-4 trey attempts.
 
The Marauders shot 46 percent for the game while the Golden Eagles checked in at 48 percent. UMary was 7-of-9 at the line to the 13-of-16 effort for UMC. The Golden Eagles also held an edge in points off turnovers (17-7) despite both teams committing the same amount of miscues. UMC's bench also held a 19-0 scoring advantage over UMary with Guidinger accounting for all the Golden Eagles points.
 
UMary finished the regular season 13-15 overall and 9-13 in the NSIC. UMC is 8-18 and 8-14.
 
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