Huskies stun Duluth to win NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament title

Tuesday, March 3

Sioux Falls, S.D.

7:30 p.m.

St. Cloud State

23-7,16-6NSIC

University of Minnesota Duluth

26-6,20-2NSIC

St. Cloud St.

Minn. Duluth

The Huskies hoist the trophy after winning the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Tuesday night.

Photo by: Kelsey Whaley

Huskies stun Duluth to win NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament title

3/3/2020 9:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It wasn't supposed to happen. At the start of the season, the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team wasn't supposed to compete for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) title, regular or postseason.

Well, the Huskies don't exactly like doing things according to plan.

It wasn't easy, and it wasn't always the prettiest of basketball, but St. Cloud State did what it wasn't supposed to: take down rival the University of Minnesota-Duluth and win the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Championship for the second time in program history and the first time since 2008-09. Thanks to outstanding defense, the Huskies hoisted the conference tournament trophy, defeating the Bulldogs 71-62 to earn the NSIC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The third and potentially final match up of the 2019-20 season between the Huskies and Bulldogs was going to be intense, as St. Cloud State was looking to avenge two early season losses to the top seed in the North Division. From the beginning, both teams scored contested baskets, resulting in a 9-9 tie at the first media time out of the game. It was then the Huskies that found a small offensive rhythm, as threes from Kelsey Peschel (Sauk Centre, Minn. / Sauk Centre) and Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) helped St. Cloud State hold a 17-12 advantage over Minnesota-Duluth after the first 10 minutes of play.

Fouls proved to be the Huskies nemesis in the second quarter, as they were called for eight fouls in the first half alone, forcing head coach Lori Fish to play large chunks of quarters without several key starters. In fact, all five St. Cloud State starters had been penalized with at least one foul before the five minute mark of the second quarter, including Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) who had been called for two early fouls in the game. The Huskies bench proved up to the task, as they scored 12 points, including a team-leading nine by Peschel at the half, allowing St. Cloud State to walk into the locker room with a 35-25 lead over the Bulldogs.

St. Cloud State put up some impressive numbers in the first half, as the team out-rebounded Minnesota-Duluth 26-9 in the opening 20 minutes play while the Huskies defense held the Bulldogs to a .300 field goal percentage in the first half. Minnesota-Duluth earned the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament for a reason, though, as the Bulldogs came storming back in the third quarter to make it 42-38 at the first media time out. By the end of the quarter, Minnesota-Duluth seemingly had all the momentum on its side, as the Bulldogs cut the Huskies lead to 50-44.

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The final 10 minutes proved to be highly intense, as the score remained 50-44 through the first two minutes. St. Cloud State was also forced to play most of it without Kilboten, who was handed her fourth foul at 8:14 in the quarter. It was unfortunately Minnesota-Duluth to score the first basket of the quarter, cutting the lead to 50-46 with 6:18 remaining on the clock.

Fouls again proved to be problematic for the Huskies, as multiple student-athletes had two or more in the latter stages of the fourth quarter. St. Cloud State could not get a shot to fall, while the Bulldogs continued to press offensively, tying things up 52-52 with 4:15 remaining in regulation. From that point on, the two teams traded baskets until Madelin Dammann (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) and Evans hit two of the biggest shots of the game. First, tied at 56-56, Dammann drained two free throws to give the Huskies a 58-56 advantage. Next, St. Cloud State came up with a huge defensive stop and rebound, setting up Evans for a big-time three, extending the Huskies lead to 61-56 at the two minute mark.

The final two minutes were maybe the longest of the game, as free throws and fouls continuously stopped the clock and raised the heartrates of St. Cloud State all over the Midwest. Trailing 61-56 with under a minute left, the Bulldogs were forced to foul, and the Huskies continually came up clutch over and over again. Though Minnesota-Duluth managed to cut the lead to five with 15 second left, Evans and Wortz drained four consecutive free throws, clinching the 71-62 victory for St. Cloud State.

Evans led the team in scoring Tuesday evening, tallying 17 points on 5-7 shooting, including a 3-4 clip from three-point range. Kilboten added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Dammann concluded the game with 12 points.

Dammann, Wortz and Kilboten were all named to the NSIC/Sanford Health All-Tournament team after leading the Huskies to their first conference tournament title in 11 years. Kilboten was named the tournament MVP after averaging a near double-double in four tournament games.

The conference tournament title is the second in program history for the Huskies, as they won the title their first year in the conference back in 2008-09. The win also secures St. Cloud State's place in the NCAA Tournament, as the team earned the NSIC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will take place March 13-14 at a yet to be determined location.

With the win, the Huskies conclude the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament with a 23-7 overall record, St. Cloud State's best overall record since that historic 2008-09 record. The Huskies will learn their fate regarding the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, March 9 during the selection show. Details regarding a watch party will be released later this week.