Box Score Bismarck, ND—Saturday night was the first chance to see the new-look University of Mary women's basketball team in action and fans left happy as U-Mary cruised to a win over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The Marauders (1-0) came away with a decisive 90-73 victory in their season opener against the Hardrockers (0-2).
Named to the NSIC All-Freshmen Team in 2012-13,
Brittney Dietz started 2013-14 where she left off finishing with a career-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds for her first career double-double. Dietz was 7-for-10 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.
SDSMT had three players in double figures led by Alexis Long and Anne Soenneker, who each finished with 14 points.
U-Mary's shooters were in mid-season form as they connected on 51 percent of their shots form the field and 53 percent (9-for-17) from three-point land. Key to their success shooting the ball was their 32-22 edge in scoring from the paint.
Just 3:07 into the game
Linda Murray scored inside on an assist from
Lindsey Sand to give the Marauders a lead they would hold for the rest of the game at 7-5. Murray's lay-up started a 9-0 U-Mary run that was sparked by six points from Dietz. The Marauders built their lead to as many as 13 with 2:36 left until half as Dietz hit back-to-back buckets. The Hardrockers responded with a 7-0 run, but Murray connected on a jumper to give U-Mary an eight point leading entering halftime.
Dietz finished the first half with 19 points and Murray with 12.
U-Mary let South Dakota Mines stick around early in the second half but a 15-2 run that was started by a Dietz three and ended by a pair of threes from Sand gave the Marauders their largest lead of the night at 21 with 9:18 left to play. U-Mary built its lead to as many as 24 as it cruised to a 90-73 win.
Sand was a perfect 3-for-3 from deep and 4-for-4 from the field scoring all 13 of her career-high 13 points in the second half. Making her first career start, Sand also added five assists, four rebounds and four steals on the night. Murray was strong in her first game since 2011-12 after missing 2012-13 due to an injury. The 6-2 senior scored 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting and grabbed nine boards.
U-Mary will be on the road next weekend as they head to California to take on NAIA foes Vanguard University and Biola University.
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