Huskies Take #12 MSU-Moorhead to OT, Edged Out 81-77

Friday, February 17

St. Cloud, Minn.

6 p.m.

St. Cloud State

11-14, 9-12NSIC

Minnesota State University Moorhead

22-3, 19-2NSIC

OT 1

MSU Moorhead

St. Cloud State University

Chelsea Nooker

Photo by: Bella Rose Photography

2/17/2017 8:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

St. Cloud, Minn.- With 1,123 loud and proud fans at their back, the Huskies were able to force overtime on Feb. 17 when they played host to #12 Minnesota State Moorhead, but were unable to hold off the Dragons in the extra time falling 81-77.

The Huskies (11-14, 9-12 NSIC) and the Dragons (22-3, 19-2 NSIC) started the game by feeling each other out, going point for point for the first half of the opening quarter. The visitors led 12-10 at the media timeout halfway through, and would outscore the Huskies 9-7 to close out the quarter up 21-17.

The Huskies continued to trail the Dragons halfway through the second frame, but would turn on the fight as they would overtake MSUM at 31-30 with 90 seconds remaining in the frame. The Dragons would add two points, followed immediately by a Chelsea Nooker jumper to put the Huskies back up by one. The Dragons would tie the game at 33-33 with a free throw from Drew Sannes, and that's where the score would remain heading into halftime.

The Huskies came out with renewed energy in the third quarter, and it would prove to pay off. The Huskies outscored the Dragons 25-18 in the frame, with much of the credit going to Nooker who had a substantial quarter putting up ten points. The Huskies would take over the lead at 58-51 heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter was a tale of two teams as the Huskies dominated the scoring for the first three minutes of play. However, a technical by Sannes with the Huskies up 63-55, would prove to be the wake up call that the Dragons needed. After the foul the Dragons quickly closed in on the Huskies and the two teams would find themselves knotted up again at 69-69 after the Huskies took three fouls in quick succession allowing the Dragons to close the remaining gap with free throws. The Huskies would go up 72-70 after Betsy MacDonald put up a beautiful three pointer, but Nooker would be called for a foul while attempting to block a layup and the Dragons would again tie the game. Both teams would then turn to their defensive strategies to keep them in the game, and the horn would sound calling for overtime with the teams tied at 72-72.

The Huskies would open the scoring in the overtime with a jumper from Nooker, but the Dragons were quick to answer with a layup of their own to tie the game back up. The Dragons would then add another basket and the Huskies would struggle to keep the visitors out of the paint, allowing them to go on a 4-0 scoring run to get up 78-74. The Huskies would close the gap within two points but were forced to foul in order to slow the Dragon's momentum, allowing the visitors to run up the score to 81-77, where it would remain at the end of the game.

The Huskies were led in the loss by Nooker who put up a total of 25 points on the night, while also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out two assists. MacDonald would add 23 points for the home team, and dished out a team high six assists. Brianna Johnson would collect her first career double-double, picking up a career high 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Huskies.

Minnesota State Moorhead was led in the game by Sannes who accounted for 22 points and 13 rebounds.

The Huskies will close out their regular season schedule Feb. 18 when they host Northern State University for Senior Night. Tip off is set for 4 p.m. Immediately following the game the Huskies will honor MacDonald and Nooker, the team's only seniors, for their record breaking seasons and careers with the Huskies.