ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Morris (4-3, 2-1 UMAC) defense did a great job slowing down the Northwestern Eagles (7-2, 3-0 UMAC) but fell 67-63 in overtime in the UMAC Game of the Week. Morris had to deal with turnovers and foul trouble but found a way to stay in the contest thanks to stingy defense.
The Cougars jumped out 7-0 on the Eagles in the first quarter but the Eagles' Courtney Cunard connected a back-to-back three's to cut the UMM lead to one.
Cori Becker had nine of the Cougars first 12 points. Morris held a 12-10 lead after a quarter.
The Eagled would win the battle in the second quarter finishing the half on a small 5-1 run to take a 23-21 lead. Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, shooting under 35%. Morris was hurt by 14 turnovers in the first half as Northwestern went to the break with a small lead.
Northwestern started the second half on a 9-2 run to extend their lead to nine. Morris cut the lead down to five on a coupe occasions but could not get any closer in the third quarter. The Eagles would take a ten point lead into the final quarter of play.
Minnesota Morris showed some spark as the fourth quarter began, scoring the first six points of the quarter to cut the UNW lead to four.
Tori Holt hit a pair of free throws to make it a one possession game and then
Elli Stevenson nailed a three to tie the game with four minutes to play. UNW jumped back out by four but a three from
Maja Coomes cut it to one moments later.
Stevenson tied the game at the line and then put Morris up 55-53 with a pair of free throws with 41 seconds left. Northwestern tied the game at 55 and the game went to overtime.
Morris had to play overtime with starters Holt and Becker who had fouled out. Northwestern found themselves up three midway through the overtime period but Coomes hit a three to tie the game at 62. The Eagles outscored the Cougars 5-1 at the foul line in the final two minutes to win 67-63.
GAME NOTES:- Cori Becker had nine points in the first half for UMM, she finished with 12 points, a season high.
- Kayla Kraemer tied her career high with 17 points.
- Three Eagles finished in double figures, led by Amy Berglund with 23.
- Maja Coomes hit a couple big shots to keep the Cougars in the game; she finished 3-6 from three and had ten points.
- Northwestern scored 23 points off UMM turnovers. The Cougars had just seven points off turnovers.
- UNW outscored the Cougars 32-20 in the paint.
- Morris hit eight 3's on the night, their most this season in a single game.
