MORRIS, Minn. – Matching up for the second time in three days, the No. 4-seeded UMN Morris women's basketball team (17-9) held off the fifth-seeded North Central Rams (12-14), 69-65, Monday night inside the Cougar Sports Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two offenses started out slow as the two teams combined for just one point over the first 2:58 of action.
- Once the Cougars got things going, Abby Van Kempen made it a 13-4 game with 2:47 left in the first quarter.
- After Jocelyn Talso hit a 3-pointer with less than a minute to go, the Cougars led the Rams, 14-7, after 10 minutes of action.
- In the second quarter, freshman Jadyn Sondrol hit three-straight 3-pointers to give the Cougars a 26-14 lead with 6:10 remaining in the first half, but the Rams kept things close as the Cougars led 30-26 at halftime.
- Looking to put the game away early in the second half, the Cougars built a 45-30 lead with 3:55 to go in the third.
- After three quarters of play in the books, the Cougars held a 51-40 lead over the Rams.
- Mia Wassink opened up the fourth quarter with a layup to bring the lead to 13 points, but the Rams brought the game back within two points with 4:46 to go.
- Wassink then responded with back-to-back baskets to make it 61-55 with 4:08 left in regulation.
- Down by five with 56 seconds to play, Allison Bulthuis hit a 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game with 51 seconds to go.
- The two teams then traded baskets on the next two possessions as the Cougars held a 67-65 lead with 19 seconds to play.
- On the next Cougar possession, Lexus Eagle Chasing made one of two free throws to put the Cougars up 68-65 with 13 seconds to go.
- Looking to tie the game at 68-all, Bulthuis' shot from 3-point range was no good and Wassink secured the rebound. Wassink then capped off the game by making her second of two free throws to give the Cougars the 69-65 victory.
NOTABLES
- Lexus Eagle Chasing tallied her third double-double of the season on 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Mia Wassink and Jadyn Sondrol led the Cougars with 15 points apiece. Along with her 15 points, Wassink secured eight rebounds.
- A. Van Kempen finished the game with seven points, 19 rebounds - tied a career-best outing, five assists, and two blocks.
- With 8:48 left in regulation, A. Van Kempen picked up her second block of the evening to break Abby Fragodt's '14 school record for career blocks (200).
- The Cougar bench outscored the North Central bench, 23-8.
- UMN Morris has won seven-straight games.
UP NEXT
UMN Morris now travels to Mankato, Minnesota to take on top-seeded Bethany Lutheran on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the semifinal round of the UMAC Tournament. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.