ELLENDALE, N.D. – Minnesota Morris (1-1) had five players score in double figures on Tuesday night, picking up a 68-58 win over Trinity Bible (3-3). It was the second closest matchup with the Lions in 14 meetings but the Cougars found a way to win by double figures for the 13^th time.
 
Freshmen Kendra Raths and Mauren Thiesen each had 13 points to lead the way. Tori Holt had her first double-double of the year with ten points and ten rebounds.
 
Trinity was able to hold a lead for a majority of the first quarter but a jumper by Elli Stevenson put the Cougars up 10-9. She would hit another jumper moments later to put Morris up 12-9. The Cougars went to the break, up 16-11 after a bucket from Holt.
 
The lead grew to nine at 20-11 before the Lions roared back. Trinity would get as close as one but UMM responded with nine straight to take a 29-19 lead. Raths put the Cougars up by a dozen late in the half, giving UMM a 36-24 lead. The Morris bench outscored the Lions bench 14-0 in the first half, including 12-0 in the second quarter.
 
Morris kept Trinity at bay in the third quarter, increasing their lead to as much as 17. As the fourth quarter started UMM put the game way after Holt gave the Cougars a 62-43 lead. Trinity stepped up their defense, holding Morris to just six points in the final 8:46 of the game but their offense could not match.
 
Stevenson and Kayla Kraemer finished with ten points. Cougar freshmen finished with 43 of the 68 points on the evening. Morris held the Lions to just 27.1% in the first half to gain the advantage.
 
The Cougars are off until next Tuesday when they travel to Presentation.