The No.25 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth women’s basketball team opened their first regular season homestand and their final weekend of non-conference play with a 69-59 win over the Michigan Tech University Huskies.
Halftime: UMD (35) – MTU (33)
The Bulldogs would start off the game hot with the long ball, with both of their opening buckets coming off of three point shots. UMD would continue to utilize the long ball to keep the scoring even, and eventually cap off the first quarter with a nine point run bookended by their fifth three point shot in the opening 10 minutes. UMD would carry a six point lead over to the second quarter, trading buckets for the beginning five minutes. The Huskies would go on a nine point streak of their own to take a four point lead going into the final two minutes, but would be quick to lose the lead with the Bulldogs securing six unanswered points to close out the half.
UMD would shoot 14-28 with a 50% field goal percentage, 5-9 from three point range, and 2-6 from the free throw line throughout the first half. Despite out rebounding the Bulldogs 15-11 in the first half, MTU would struggle to sustain momentum on either side of the ball with eight turnovers and seven personal fouls.
Final: UMD (69) – MTU (59)
UMD would secure the first four points of the second half, but MTU would take their chance to respond with 10 unanswered points to give them a four point lead with five and a half minutes left. The Bulldogs would close that lead and put themselves up by one with an 8-3 run fueled by two shots from outside the arc, but would lose the lead again going into the fourth with five unanswered from the Huskies. The two teams would trade buckets back and forth going into the final minutes of the game, but a string of nine from the Bulldogs would give them a seven point lead to ride out and secure their opening game of the homestand.
UMD closed out the game shooting 28-54 from the field with a 56.3% three point percentage and a 50% free throw percentage. Six steals from the Bulldogs and 16 turnovers on the side of MTU would prove to be the catalyst for UMD to run away with the game.
Top Performers
Graduate student guard Taytum Rhoades and senior guard Taya Hakamaki share the Player of the Game honors tonight. Rhoades shot 9-14 from the field with three successful shots from three point range for 21 total points while also leading the game with five rebounds and seven assists. Hakamaki shot 10-13 from the field with four successful shots from three point range for 27 total points while also tying for a game high two steals and recording the only block on the day.
Looking Ahead
Women’s basketball returns to Romano Gymnasium tomorrow to take on the Northern Michigan University Wildcats in their final non-conference game of the regular season. The actions for the Bulldogs will kick off at 2:00 PM.