MORRIS, Minn. – The Minnesota Morris (6-7, 3-3 UMAC) defense was stout on Saturday, holding Northland (6-5, 4-4 UMAC) to just 23.4% in a 70-50 win. Morris held the Jills to just six made shots in the first half as they built up a 12 point lead.
 
Maja Coomes and Mauren Thiesen were each 4-6 from behind the arc in the game to score 12 points. Elli Stevenson led all scorers with 13 to go along with four steals. Kayla Kraemer had six rebounds, five assists and five points. Cori Becker and Kendra Raths each added nine points offensively. The team shot 11-20 from three in the game, their best effort of the season.
 
The Cougars started the game on an 18-5 run that included three made three point attempts. Northland never led in the game and the Cougars defense would never allow them to get any closer than eight after the run to open the game.
 
Through the first two quarters Northland scored 25 points with 13 coming from the free throw line. The largest lead in the first half came when Theisen hit a three to give UMM a 35-18 lead with 3:13 left in the half.
 
The second half began with a 12-5 run by the Cougars as their lead grew to 19. Northland would never get any closer than 18 the rest of the way and the Morris lead would balloon to as much as 32 with 6:15 left.
 
Morris will try to carry momentum from back-to-back wins this weekend into a tough UMAC road trip next weekend against Bethany Lutheran and Martin Luther.