Box Score

Morris, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Morris women's basketball team fell 93-88 in a two-overtime thriller to Valley City State tonight (Dec. 17).

The Cougars and the Vikings played a very close and physical game with the two teams close or tied all night long. The first half ended tied at 36, while regulation ended tied at 72. The first overtime ended all knotted up at 84, before the Vikings prevailed in the second, outscoring the Cougars 9-to-4 to finish off the victory.

The biggest lead of the game was with 4:14 left in the first half with the Vikings up by eight. During the game the score was tied 14 times, and there were 16 different lead changes.

The Cougars shot 49.2% from the floor, and held the Vikings to 47.5%. The 88 points scored by UMM are the most by the team this season. Also, however, the 93 points given up tonight are a season high.

The Cougars had four players who scored 10 or more points, and leading the way was Emily Mehr (Aitkin, Minn.) who had a season high 23. Tara Thielke (Hancock, Minn.) and Jenni Noordmans (Hancock, Minn.) also had a season highs with 20 and 19 respectively. Noordmans also added six boards to her effort.

Steph Roggenbuck (Osakis, Minn.) had her first double-double of the season, with 11 points and a season high 10 rebounds, nine in the defensive end.

The game was won in the paint, where Vikings scored 44 compared to just 26 for Cougars. UMM's bench did their share of scoring as well, as they chipped in 25, to 21 for VCSU. On the boards, the Cougars had a very good tonight, collecting 40 and out-rebounding the Vikings 40-to-29.

The play of the game has to go to Thielke. With the Cougars down three and 1.5 seconds left in first overtime, Thielke went for a three-pointer but was fouled, sending her to the line. She made all three free throws to tie the game at 84 and bring it into the second overtime. 

With finals being done and winter break upon us, the Cougars will get a break from action. They will be off for a couple weeks with their next coming as a rematch against Valley City State. The Cougars kick-off 2011 on January 4, in Valley City, N.D. at 5:30 p.m.

Remember you can always watch the game on Cougar Sports Network.