St. Cloud State
23-4,19-2NSIC
University of Minnesota Duluth
24-4,19-2NSIC
#11 Huskies fall in NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament Championship
3/1/2022 8:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Evans, Kilboten named to All-Tournament team
ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Tuesday didn't include the storybook ending the St. Cloud State University women's basketball team was hoping for. Despite a hard fought battle, the Huskies fell to conference rival Minnesota-Duluth 62-39 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) / Sanford Health Tournament Championship game. St. Cloud State, with an overall record of 23-4, will wait to see if the team receives an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, which will take place March 10-13 in a yet to be announced location.
GAME SUMMARY
The Huskies and Bulldogs entered the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament as the top two teams in the conference, and it showed Tuesday evening. The two teams struggled to set an offensive rhythm, with defense playing a major factor in the opening quarter. In fact, five minutes in, the two teams scored just eight points with Minnesota-Duluth holding a 7-1 advantage. By the end of the first quarter, the #23 Bulldogs extended their lead to 19-8, using St. Cloud State's game plan against it.
The second quarter proved to be much of the same, as the Huskies continued to commit uncharacteristic turnovers early on. It made it difficult to overcome the 11 point deficit, as St. Clout State trailed 35-13 at half. However, the Huskies are known for their comebacks, especially in the playoffs, having overcome a 20+ point deficit in the NSIC / Sanford Health Tournament one season ago. Alas, luck was not on the team's side Tuesday evening, as St. Cloud State fell by a final score of 62-39.
TOP HUSKIES
- Brehna Evans (De Pere, Wis. / West De Pere) fueled the Huskies fourth quarter comeback, scoring a team-leading 18 points in the loss. She was named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the evening.
- Nikki Kilboten (Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North) led the team in rebounds with nine total. She additionally led the team with three blocks and was named to the All-Tournament team.
UP NEXT
The Huskies will now await their fate to see if they receive an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The field will be announced on Sunday, March 6 during the NCAA Selection Show, which will air at 9:00 p.m. on the NCAA website.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Basketball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
