St. Cloud State
10-3,7-2NSIC
University of Minnesota Duluth
9-1,9-1NSIC
Spoiler Alert: Huskies down No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth 60-49
2/19/2021 8:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DULUTH, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University women's basketball really enjoys doing the unexpected, especially ruining perfect seasons.
The Huskies spoiled the nationally ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth's dreams of an undefeated year, as they handed the Bulldogs their first loss of 2020-21. Perhaps more impressive? The team did so in Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minnesota, as St. Cloud State downed its conference rival 60-49.
The Huskies played perhaps their most dominating defensive game of the 2020-21 season, as they held offensive minded Minnesota-Duluth to a season-low 49 points Friday evening. In fact, the Huskies allowed the Bulldogs to score over 15 points in a quarter just once all game and held Minnesota-Duluth to just nine points in a defensively dominant second quarter.
After a close first quarter, where neither team could get anything going offensively, St. Cloud State pulled away in the second, as a big scoring run helped the Huskies head to the locker room with a 34-20 lead at the half. The defense then took over in the second half, as St. Cloud State stifled the Bulldogs in both the third and fourth quarters to secure the 60-49 victory.
Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) led the team with 17 points on 6-12 shooting, including a 3-4 clip from beyond the arc. Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) and Katrina Theis (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) put up big points in the paint for the Huskies, as they each scored 12 points from the floor, while Kilboten tallied a team-leading eight rebounds in the process.
With the win, St. Cloud State's overall record improves to 10-3 and the team is 7-2 in NSIC play. The Huskies will look to spoil another NSIC North Division Championship for Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, as they face the Bulldogs in game two at 4 p.m. in Duluth, Minnesota.
