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Box Score
Valley City, N.D. – In their return to action tongiht (Jan. 4) the Minnesota, Morris women's basketball team suffered a 76-52 loss on the road to a streaking Valley City State team.
The Cougars were playing in their first game in over two weeks, having not taken the court since Dec. 17. Tonight's opponent was a Viking team that has now won eight straight, including a double overtime win over UMM in the Cougars last action.
Valley City State (12-4) opened the game by hitting 18-of-32 (.563) first half field goals, as they build up a 44-26 lead at the break. Minnesota Morris (4-6), meanwhile, struggled from the field early, hitting just 10-of-28 (.357) shots from the floor.
The Vikings cooled down in the second half, and finished shooting 45% (28-of-62) for the game, but the Cougars were unable to capitalize, as VCSU held them to an 8-of-23 mark in the second, for a 35% (18-of-51) tally for the night.
With 11 points, Steph Roggenbuck (Osakis, Minn.) led the Cougars, finishing as the only player in double figures. Although it was one of her lowest outputs this season, Roggenbuck hit double figures for the eighth consecutive game, and the ninth time on the season.
She was joined on the leader board by four players with eight points, including Emily Mehr (Aitkin, Minn.), Kaila Lindsay (Becker, Minn.), Alyssa Silva (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Tara Thielke (Hancock, Minn.). For Lindsay, it marked a season high, bettering her seven from the season's third game.
The Vikings were led by Lexi Daniels with 25 points and Mandi Bindas with 10. Daniels went 9-of-14 from the floor, including a perfect 4-of-4 from long range en route to her big night.
The Vikings outrebounded the Cougars 39-to-30 on the night, with VCSU grabbing 14 boards on the offensive end. The Vikings were able to turn those into seven second chance points, while keeping the Cougars without a second chance point in the game.
With 10 nonconference games under their belts, the Cougars will now turn their attention to the UMAC, and the opening of conference play. The defense of their 2010 league title will begin at home on Jan. 11 when UMM hosts Presentation at 5:30 p.m. The following weekend, on Jan. 14 and 15, the get to stay on Jim Gremmels Court as they host Northwestern and Crown respectively, continuing in UMAC play.
