MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball Head Coach Tim Grove won his 300th game with the program as the Cougars defeated North Central University 62-57 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play Wednesday night in Minneapolis, Minn.
 
The Cougars improve to 10-12 overall and 7-2 in the UMAC, while the Rams drop to 11-11 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
 
The Cougars scored two quick baskets down low after forcing a steal, prompting a timeout before two minutes were played. Shelby Mortenson continued the run with her third point of the game at the free throw line. Mortenson pushed the advantage to 7-1 with a jump shot from the free throw line. Anna Myers hit the first three-pointer of the game on her first attempt. Gabby Randt got on the board with a free throw, but an eight-point run from NCU put the Rams on top 13-11. Grace Perry leveled the game at the charity stripe, but the Rams answered with another three. NCU added two more before the quarter ended to lead 18-13 after the first.
 
Claire Stark started the scoring in the second with a long two, but the Rams answered with their fourth three of the game. Stark and Gianna Klarenbeek cut the lead to two. North Central and Minnesota Morris matched the scoring pace, with Maddy Grove and Myers scoring for UMM. Klarenbeek leveled the game at 25-25 with a midrange jumper. In the final minute, Taylor Johnson found Mortenson in the paint for a layup to bring UMM level again. Grove gave the lead back to the Cougars, scoring inside the arc to make it 31-29 heading into halftime.
 
Perry was fouled on the first Cougar drive of the second half and made a free throw to start the scoring. Grove and Perry scored to keep the lead at three. Klarenbeek was found cutting down low and pushed the advantage to five, but NCU followed with a three. Brooke Ver Steeg scored her first points of the game from behind the arc, with Mortenson following to extend the edge to six. The lead continued to grow after Grove scored through contact and converted the free throw. Mortenson grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to push the lead to double digits. Mortenson added the final points of the quarter to give the Cougars a 52-41 edge after three.
 
The lead grew to 13 after a three-point play from Perry. The Rams applied heavy pressure, forcing turnovers and cutting the lead to four. After four minutes without a score from either team, the Rams got to the line and made two free throws to trim the lead to two. Stark grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup to end the seven-minute scoring drought. Klarenbeek was fouled with 32 seconds remaining and made it a two-possession game. The Cougars forced a stop, and Grove converted at the line to push the lead to six with 18 seconds remaining. Klarenbeek added two more free throws, followed by an NCU three, but it was not enough as Minnesota Morris secured the 62-57 victory.
 
Grove and Mortenson led the Cougars with 13 points each. Klarenbeek followed with 11 points. Despite shooting a season-low 31.4 percent from the field, the Cougar defense held NCU to 28.6 percent shooting. Klarenbeek and Stark each recorded three assists to lead the team.
 
Defensively, Perry grabbed 10 rebounds, with Myers adding eight. Minnesota Morris outrebounded NCU 49-38. Klarenbeek had a team-high three steals, while Mortenson recorded a game-high block.
 
The Cougars return home for their final regular season game Saturday against Martin Luther College with a 1 p.m. tipoff.