St. Cloud State
10-4,7-3NSIC
University of Minnesota Duluth
10-1,10-1NSIC
Huskies drop heartbreaker at Minnesota-Duluth 69-60
2/20/2021 5:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DULUTH, MINN. - All good things must come to an end, even win streaks for the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team. After upending the No. 6 University of Minnesota-Duluth Friday evening, the Huskies had another upset on their mind yet again, as they looked to sweep the nationally ranked Bulldogs with a victory Saturday afternoon. Sadly, a Saturday win was not in the cards for St. Cloud State, as the team fell in its season finale 69-60.
After the opening quarter of play, it looked like the Huskies were well on their way to earning another win over Minnesota-Duluth, as they held the NSIC powerhouse to 13 points and led by a score of 21-13. An even keel second period additionally made things look like St. Cloud State was destined for greatness, as the team took a 33-25 lead into the locker room at half, led by strong scoring and rebounding performances from both Tori Wortz (Hutchinson, Minn. / Hutchinson) and Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North).
The Bulldogs, though, were a different team in the second half, as they wore down the Huskies defense en route to their 69-60 victory. St. Cloud State, though, hung with Minnesota-Duluth every second of the third quarter until a scoring drought plagued them late in the fourth, allowing the Bulldogs to pull ahead 64-57 with under a minute left in regulation.
With 21 seconds on the game clock, Wortz launched a three-pointer and watched it swish through the basket, cutting the lead to 64-60 with second remaining in the game. It was the last basket the Huskies would score in regulation, as they were forced to foul to regain possession. Though Minnesota-Duluth missed a handful of free throws down the stretch, it wasn't enough, as St. Cloud State fell 69-60.
Wortz closed as the Huskies leading scorer, tallying a season-high 25 points on 10-16 shooting from the floor, including a team-leading 3-9 mark from three-point range. Kilboten was a rebound shy of a double-double, she scored 11 points and nine rebounds in the season finale.
With the loss, St. Cloud State closes the regular season with a 10-4 record and a 7-3 mark in NSIC North Division play. The Huskies still secured the No. 2 seed in the North Division Saturday afternoon, meaning they will make a trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament next weekend. More information on St. Cloud State's first round foe will be available in the upcoming days.
