Marshall, MN – A dominating effort on the boards and a balanced scoring attack carried the University of Mary women's basketball team to its eighth straight win, a 74-66 win at Southwest Minnesota State University. U-Mary held a 50-34 rebounding edge and Kaitlyn Haag led ten players in the scoring column with 12 points.

U-Mary improves to 12-3 overall and maintain its hold on second place in the Northern Sun at 9-2. The eight straight wins is the longest for the Marauders since winning eight straight in 2004-05. SMSU falls to 5-9 and 4-6.  

The Marauders jumped out to a quick 15-5 lead behind seven points from Shaunna Knife and two three-pointers from Ali Collins. The Mustangs closed within a point but the Marauders would enter intermission leading 42-34 after shooting 46.9 per cent in the opening half.

A 19-7 run behind a barrage of three-pointers early in the second half would provide the Marauders with their biggest lead of the day at 62-45 with 10:49 remaining in the game. Laura Petersen and McKenzie Foster nailed back-to-back threes and Kayla Schmidt hit a trey to push the U-Mary advantage to 17 points.

The basket by Schmidt was the last basket of the game for the Marauders, who finished the game misfiring on their last 13 shots of the night. U-Mary would hold off SMSU at the line, making 12-of-14 free throws down the stretch. The closest the Mustangs would get would be seven points as the Marauders turned up the defense.

Haag led the Marauders with 12 points, the seventh straight game she has hit double figures. The sophomore post also pulled down eight rebounds. Knife scored 11 points, made all five free throws, pulled down six boards and distributed four assists. Like Haag, Lindsey Sand came off the bench and scored 11 points.

Linda Murray ripped down a game high nine rebounds and added six points and two blocks. Petersen had eight points and led all players with four steals. In a limited role due to fouls, Collins posted eight points, six rebounds and three assists.

Hope Bonlander came off the bench to score 13 points for SMSU. Ellen Degler, also in a reserve role, and Abby Kenealy both scored 12 points.

The Marauders, who are 7-1 on the road this season, finish the weekend at Minnesota State University on Saturday, January 14.

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