(MSUM Athletics) MOORHEAD — Behind a strong defensive effort, MSUM women’s basketball picked up their first NSIC victory of the year defeating Minot State 57-33 inside Nemzek Fieldhouse.
The 33 points scored by the Beavers was the second fewest points scored by an opponent in Karla Nelson’s 23-year tenure at MSUM. The Dragons surrendered only 32 points to Upper Iowa at home in January of 2020. Minot State finished the game shooting just 21.7 percent from the floor over 40 minutes.
MSUM’s defensive effort began early, holding Minot State to just one of 15 shooting in the first 10 minutes. The Beavers would go on to shoot 20 percent in the first half as the Dragons assumed a 24-16 lead heading into halftime. Natalie Jens led MSUM with a game-high 11 points in the first half. The Dragons shot 29.6 percent in the first half, but were aided thanks to seven free throw makes on nine attempts. In the second quarter alone, the Dragons made six free throws on seven attempts.
The Dragons exploded out of the locker room, creating a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter. Senior Peyton Boom scored eight points in the quarter after scoring only two in the first half. Mariah McKeever added five in the frame with MSUM holding a 40-25 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Dragons shot 50 percent from the field in the frame.
MSUM continued to expand their lead in the final quarter, creating a 24-point margin between them and the Beavers late in the contest. The Dragons would shoot 50 percent again in the quarter, compared to 16.7 percent for Minot State. MSUM finished the game shooting 40 percent from the floor and outrebounding Minot State 39-25. Boom, McKeever and Jens combined for 40 of MSUM’s 57 points in the victory.
