Bismarck, ND – A defensive slugfest slipped away from the University of Mary women's basketball team. The Marauders went into a scoring drought and gave up a double digit second half lead in a 54-49 home loss to the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Linda Murray posted her second straight double double and fifth of the season for the Marauders. The junior post player led the Marauders with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Shaunna Knife was the only other U-Mary player in double figures, scoring 10 points. She also added five boards, two blocks and two steals. Ali Collins chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals.

The Bulldogs were led by Courtney Doucette, who scored 18 points. Katrina Newman had 11 points and 14 rebounds. In the paint, Emma Van Winkle blocked six shots and pulled in six rebounds.

A 10-2 run early in the second half featuring six points from Murray propelled the Marauders to a 38-28 lead with more than 13 minutes remaining in the game. U-Mary struggled to score the rest of the night, posting just 11 more points while UMD would tally 26.

Much of the Marauders offensive implosion was self-induced as U-Mary turned the ball over on five straight possessions as the Bulldogs fought their way back into the game.

Trailing by one, the Marauders took their last lead of the night at 6:49 on a Murray layup, giving the Marauders a 43-41 lead. A Doucette three-pointer immediately followed and UMD played in front the rest of the night.

Collins hit a jumper at 3:02 to get the Marauders within 48-47 but it was as close as U-Mary could get. The Marauders had a chance to tie or take the lead but Collins misfired on the front end of a 1-and-1 bonus and U-Mary also missed a shot in the lane. UMD extended its lead to 49-47 on a free throw with 90 seconds left. Two more missed shots followed by the Marauders before Shelly Stemper hit two free throws with 18 seconds left to extend the UMD lead to 51-47.

Two free throws by Collins followed at 00:12 but Doucette sealed the game at the line with two more makes and nine second on the clock.

Despite the loss, the Marauders remain in third place in the Northern Sun with a 14-5 record overall and an 11-4 mark in conference play. The Bulldogs are 12-7 and 9-6.

U-Mary next begins a four-game road trip at the University of Minnesota Crookston on February 3.

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