
Tori Wortz scored a season-high 18 points in the Huskies loss to UMD Sunday.
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Huskies can't hold lead in 59-54 loss to UMD
12/30/2018 3:41:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DULUTH, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University women's basketball was hoping to close out 2018 in the best way possible: with its fourth consecutive win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. It wouldn't necessarily be the easiest feat. The Huskies were taking on their conference rival, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, in one of the coldest days of the year in Duluth, Minnesota. Despite leading for the majority of the contest, St. Cloud State was unable to leave the northern part of Minnesota with a victory, falling to Minnesota-Duluth by a final score of 59-54.
It was clearly going to be a defensive battle from the get-go, as the Huskies and Bulldogs scored a combined 16 points in the first 10 minutes of play. Fortunately, it was St. Cloud State that scored the majority of those points, as the team held a 9-7 lead over Minnesota-Duluth at the end of the first quarter. It was the Huskies defensive play, though, that really shined in the opening quarter of play, as they held the Bulldogs scoreless through the first six minutes of the game.
Minnesota-Duluth eventually figured out how to penetrate St. Cloud State's defense, using screens to get ideal matchups against the Huskies shorter line up. Still, St. Cloud State held the Bulldogs to just .143 percent shooting from the floor while not giving up a three in the first quarter, allowing the team to take a 9-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
The defensive stalwart continued in the second quarter, though both teams did manage to score in double-digits for the first time. Still, the Huskies defense proved to be better and stronger, as they held Minnesota-Duluth to just 12 shots during the quarter while tallying three steals and a block. St. Cloud State's offense eventually took over as well, despite not scoring early in the quarter. In fact, the Bulldogs actually took their first lead of the game at 16-15 on a Sammy Kozlowski three.
That three seemed to be what the Huskies offense needed to kick things back in gear, as they went on a 5-0 scoring run to retake the lead. Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / North) jump started the run by knocking down two free throws before Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) hit a wide open three to give St. Cloud State a 20-16 lead.
The Bulldogs knocked the lead back down to 20-19 on another three, this time by Katie Stark, and managed to stay within one point of the Huskies for the next few offensive possessions. However, Mallie Doucette (Colfax, Wis. / Colfax) and Wortz had other ideas in terms of St. Cloud State's lead. The two guards hit back-to-back threes and knocked down several shots in the final minutes to help the Huskies hold a 29-21 lead at the half.
Of course, the Bulldogs were not about to go away quietly in the second half. Despite trailing 35-25 at 4:02 in the third quarter, Minnesota-Duluth took advantage of St. Cloud State's young roster, forcing multiple turnovers to eventually cut the lead to 35-30. However, Katrina Theis (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) came up big for the Huskies, hitting back-to-back layups to regain a 39-33 advantage for St. Cloud State.
It all started to unravel in the fourth quarter. Despite maintaining a six point lead, the Bulldogs slowly but surely chipped away at the Huskies lead, eventually tying it at 48-48 with roughly five minutes remaining in regulation. From that point, the two teams went back-and-forth in scoring, as they continued to answer each other bucket-for-bucket until the score was knotted 52-52 with 1:17 remaining in regulation.
Wortz proved to be the initial hero for St. Cloud State, giving her team a 54-52 advantage with 34 seconds in regulation. The sophomore battled through traffic to hit a jumper from the free throw line to give her team the lead. However, Minnesota-Duluth answered with a basket of his own, as Kozlowski hit the layup and drew the foul to take a 55-54 lead with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Huskies had the opportunity to score the last basket with the last possession. However, St. Cloud State was unable to capitalize on its first offensive opportunity, as Madelin Dammann's (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) shot sailed over the rim into the waiting hands of Bulldog guard Emma Boehm, forcing the Huskies defense to foul. Boehm made both free throws, extending the lead to 57-54 with 17 second remaining, still plenty of time for St. Cloud State to come back. However, the Huskies again were unable to capitalize, resulting in the 59-54 loss.
Wortz was the top scorer for St. Cloud State in the loss, as she tallied a season-high 18 points and added five rebounds. Theis recorded her first double-double in a Husky uniform, scoring 12 points with a team-leading 10 rebounds in the effort.
With the loss, St. Cloud State's overall record falls to 6-4 and the team is now 3-3 in NSIC play. The Huskies will return to action on Friday, January 4 when they travel to Crookston, Minnesota for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
It was clearly going to be a defensive battle from the get-go, as the Huskies and Bulldogs scored a combined 16 points in the first 10 minutes of play. Fortunately, it was St. Cloud State that scored the majority of those points, as the team held a 9-7 lead over Minnesota-Duluth at the end of the first quarter. It was the Huskies defensive play, though, that really shined in the opening quarter of play, as they held the Bulldogs scoreless through the first six minutes of the game.
Minnesota-Duluth eventually figured out how to penetrate St. Cloud State's defense, using screens to get ideal matchups against the Huskies shorter line up. Still, St. Cloud State held the Bulldogs to just .143 percent shooting from the floor while not giving up a three in the first quarter, allowing the team to take a 9-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
The defensive stalwart continued in the second quarter, though both teams did manage to score in double-digits for the first time. Still, the Huskies defense proved to be better and stronger, as they held Minnesota-Duluth to just 12 shots during the quarter while tallying three steals and a block. St. Cloud State's offense eventually took over as well, despite not scoring early in the quarter. In fact, the Bulldogs actually took their first lead of the game at 16-15 on a Sammy Kozlowski three.
That three seemed to be what the Huskies offense needed to kick things back in gear, as they went on a 5-0 scoring run to retake the lead. Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / North) jump started the run by knocking down two free throws before Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) hit a wide open three to give St. Cloud State a 20-16 lead.
The Bulldogs knocked the lead back down to 20-19 on another three, this time by Katie Stark, and managed to stay within one point of the Huskies for the next few offensive possessions. However, Mallie Doucette (Colfax, Wis. / Colfax) and Wortz had other ideas in terms of St. Cloud State's lead. The two guards hit back-to-back threes and knocked down several shots in the final minutes to help the Huskies hold a 29-21 lead at the half.
Of course, the Bulldogs were not about to go away quietly in the second half. Despite trailing 35-25 at 4:02 in the third quarter, Minnesota-Duluth took advantage of St. Cloud State's young roster, forcing multiple turnovers to eventually cut the lead to 35-30. However, Katrina Theis (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) came up big for the Huskies, hitting back-to-back layups to regain a 39-33 advantage for St. Cloud State.
It all started to unravel in the fourth quarter. Despite maintaining a six point lead, the Bulldogs slowly but surely chipped away at the Huskies lead, eventually tying it at 48-48 with roughly five minutes remaining in regulation. From that point, the two teams went back-and-forth in scoring, as they continued to answer each other bucket-for-bucket until the score was knotted 52-52 with 1:17 remaining in regulation.
Wortz proved to be the initial hero for St. Cloud State, giving her team a 54-52 advantage with 34 seconds in regulation. The sophomore battled through traffic to hit a jumper from the free throw line to give her team the lead. However, Minnesota-Duluth answered with a basket of his own, as Kozlowski hit the layup and drew the foul to take a 55-54 lead with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Huskies had the opportunity to score the last basket with the last possession. However, St. Cloud State was unable to capitalize on its first offensive opportunity, as Madelin Dammann's (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) shot sailed over the rim into the waiting hands of Bulldog guard Emma Boehm, forcing the Huskies defense to foul. Boehm made both free throws, extending the lead to 57-54 with 17 second remaining, still plenty of time for St. Cloud State to come back. However, the Huskies again were unable to capitalize, resulting in the 59-54 loss.
Wortz was the top scorer for St. Cloud State in the loss, as she tallied a season-high 18 points and added five rebounds. Theis recorded her first double-double in a Husky uniform, scoring 12 points with a team-leading 10 rebounds in the effort.
With the loss, St. Cloud State's overall record falls to 6-4 and the team is now 3-3 in NSIC play. The Huskies will return to action on Friday, January 4 when they travel to Crookston, Minnesota for a 5:30 p.m. matchup against the University of Minnesota-Crookston.
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