Huskies rally for 67-60 victory over Minot State

Friday, January 11

St. Cloud, Minn.

5:30 p.m.

St. Cloud State

9-4, 6-3NSIC

Minot State University

6-9, 1-8NSIC

Minot State

St. Cloud State

Tori Wortz led the team in scoring for the second straight game, as she tallied 18 points Friday night.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

1/11/2019 10:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – In many ways, it was the same song, second verse for Friday evening's basketball game between the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team and Minot State University. The Huskies did need a somewhat dramatic comeback to beat the Beavers on their home turf. The team just did it a little earlier this time around, as St. Cloud State rallied from a 18-7 deficit to defeat Minot State 67-60 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.

Like on December 8, the Huskies found themselves in an early hole against the Beavers, as they trailed 18-7 at the end of the first quarter. St. Cloud State was quick to flip the script in the second quarter, as stingy defensive play and some clutch offense helped the team outscore Minot State 18-6 and hold a 25-24 lead at the half. McKenzie Uter (Howard Lake, Minn. / Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted), Katrina Theis (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove), Caitlyn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North) and Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) all had a hand in the Huskies 13-0 scoring run, helping them whittle the Beavers lead before taking a 25-24 lead not moments later on a layup by Uter.

St. Cloud State maintained its lead in the third quarter, as Theis and Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) set the tone with a steal and layup to extend the team's lead to 28-24. Though Minot State did manage to cut it back to two, the Huskies had an answer for every Beaver basket, allowing them to hold a 45-41 lead with one quarter remaining in regulation.

The fourth quarter proved to be the most intense of the game, as neither team led by more than three points through the first seven minutes of play. For every basket St. Cloud State scored, Minot State had an answer and eventually tied the game at 46-46. Free throws by Mallie Doucette (Colfax, Wis. / Colfax) put the Huskies ahead 48-46, but the Beavers tied it up again with a layup by Kari Clements at the seven minute mark.

Wortz propelled St. Cloud State forward to a 51-48 lead with a layup and free throw, but Kari Clements tied it again after Haley Hildenbrand made one of two free throws on Minot State's next offensive possession. The Beavers, then, took their first lead since the second quarter, as Clements converted a free throw to put her team ahead 54-53. It was the last time the Huskies would allow Minot State to take the lead, as St. Cloud State scored four unanswered points to take a 58-54 lead.

Though the Beavers managed to cut the lead down to three twice in the final two minutes, the Huskies sealed the victory with clutch free throw shooting down the stretch. Doucette, Wortz and Theis all made at least one free throw in the final minute to secure the 67-60 victory for St. Cloud State.

Wortz was the team's leading scorer for the second straight contest, as she tallied 18 points on 6-14 shooting. Theis finished the game with 15 points and a team-leading eight rebounds, while Doucette added 14, including 10 points from the free throw line.

With the win, the Huskies overall record improves to 9-4 and they are now 6-3 in NSIC play. St. Cloud State will return to action on Saturday, January 12 when the team hosts the University of Mary at 3:30 p.m. in Halenbeck Hall.