St. Cloud State
0-1,0-0NSIC
Upper Iowa University
1-0,0-0NSIC
Huskies drop OT opener to Upper Iowa 75-71
1/2/2021 7:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
ST. CLOUD, MINN. - It was not the start the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team was hoping for. The Huskies played 36 minutes and 59 seconds of outstanding basketball. It was the final 4:21 that doomed them.
Despite 5-St. Cloud State leading for the majority of regulation, the Huskies fell in their season opener to Upper Iowa University by a final score of 75-71. Junior guard Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) led the way with 21 points for St. Cloud State, while senior Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) put together an impressive double-double, tallying 18 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds.
Things were rolling for the Huskies in the open quarter, as they jumped ahead to an early 15-8 lead and extended it to 24-14 by the end of the first. However, Upper Iowa did not make things easy for St. Cloud State in the second. The Peacocks went on a 8-2 run to pull within five at 37-32 at the half.
That mini run at the end of the second quarter swing the momentum in Upper Iowa's direction. In the first three minutes, the Peacocks outscored the Huskies 10-4, allowing them to even things up at 41-41. It was Erin Navratil (Albany, Minn. / Albany) who got St. Cloud State back on track. The senior dual-sport athlete scored five consecutive points for the Huskies, kick starting their offense and helping them pull ahead 46-41.
From that point on, St. Cloud State's offense was clicking, as the team held a 57-48 lead at the end of the third quarter. That is when things started to go awry. The Peacocks scored 16 unanswered points to open the fourth quarter, meaning they took a 63-57 lead with 1:45 remaining in regulation.
Evans, Wortz and the team defense took over in the final two minutes, helping the Huskies even things up at 65-65 with 11 seconds remaining in the game. In fact, the two guards scored seven of St. Cloud State's final nine points, but it wasn't enough to earn the victory, as Upper Iowa's defense held the Huskies scoreless in the final three seconds to force overtime.
Things were still looking good for St. Cloud State in overtime, as Caitlyn Peterson (Lakeville, Minn. / North) drained a three from the top of the key to regain a 68-65 advantage for the Huskies. Unfortunately, a win just wasn't in the cards, as the Peacocks again went on a run, taking a 73-71 lead in the waning seconds of regulation. That lead would prove to be enough, as free throws clinched the victory 75-71.
Evans was one of the top players on the ice for the Huskies, as she led the way with 21 points and six assists on 7-16 shooting from the floor. Wortz was equally as impressive, as she charted her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of play.
This marks the first time St. Cloud State has lost to Upper Iowa, as the team entered the contest with a perfect 16-0 record. It also means the Huskies open the season with an 0-1 record for the first time since the 2016-17 season according to available records. St. Cloud State will return to action on Sunday, January 3 with the team hosts the Peacocks again at 2 p.m.
