(MSUM Athletics) MOORHEAD, Minn. – A massive effort on the defensive end in the second half helped propel MSU Moorhead over Northern State on Tuesday evening. The Dragons, down seven at halftime, beat the Wolves 60-53 inside Nemzek Fieldhouse.
Northern State started the game hot, shooting 62.5 percent in the first five minutes to take an early 11-6 advantage. While the Dragons would keep pace, the Wolves ended the quarter shooting 60 percent from the field and held a 20-16 lead. Peyton Boom and Mariah McKeever scored six points apiece for MSUM in the quarter. The pair shot six of 11 combined while the Dragons shot 44.4 percent from the floor through 10 minutes.
Mariah McKeever scored seven points in the second quarter to help the Dragons stay contentious as Northern State continued its hot shooting. McKeever seemingly couldn’t miss from mid-range and was able to get consistent looks at the basket.
Yet, the Wolves went into halftime with a 32-25 lead as MSUM shot just 35.5 percent from the field in the half. This included a one of nine mark from long range. Compare that to Northern State’s 51.9 percent clip in the half. McKeever had 13 points in the half with Peyton Boom adding eight points of her own.
The Dragons began the second half with a renewed sense of energy, cutting the Wolves lead to one point midway through the third quarter. MSUM was able to scratch and claw back into the game thanks to numerous stout defensive series early in the frame. The Wolves began the half shooting just 14.3 percent from the field. Peyton Boom gave the Dragons the lead with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.
Before the quarter was over, MSUM would expand their lead to eight points, leading 46-38 after three quarters. In the frame, the Dragons held Northern State to just 23.1 percent from floor and three turnovers. The defensive effort sparked a fire heading into the final quarter.
Northern State would slow the game down in an attempt to draw closer to the Dragons. The Wolves opted to drive to the interior of the lane looking for fouls. With just over three minutes remaining, the Dragons still held a four-point advantage.
MSUM would hang on down the stretch thanks to great free throw shooting. The Dragons finished the contest shooting 15 of 17 from the charity stripe as MSUM would defeat Northern State 60-53.
In the win, head coach Karla Nelson captured her 393rd career win.
Top Dragons
Mariah McKeever: 21 points, five rebounds, four assists
Peyton Boom: 16 points, six rebounds
Natalie Jens: Nine points, nine rebounds
Payton Bang: Seven points
MSUM (8-6, 5-5 NSIC) will now hit the road for a two-game stretch against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. The Dragons begin with the Mustangs on Friday at 5:30 p.m. from Marshall.
