Box Score Bismarck, ND—In a game that was within two possessions nearly the entire game, the University of Mary women's basketball team (3-2, 1-1) squeaked out a 77-75 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead (4-2, 0-2 NSIC) Friday night in their Northern Sun home opener.
 
Linda Murray scored a game-high 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. But it was McKenzie Foster who provided the spark for the Marauders scoring a season-high 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting including a perfect 3-for-3 effort from beyond the arc.  
 
One of three players in double figures for the Dragons, Megan Roerich led all scorers with 21 points. Roerich was 5-for-10 overall and 4-for-6 from deep.
 
One of four U-Mary players in double-figures, Lindsey Sand scored all 13 of her points in the first half as the Marauders took a two point lead entering halftime. U-Mary struggled to shoot the ball from the field in the first half shooting just 38 percent, but went 11-for-11 from the free throw line. MSUM also struggled to shoot the ball in the first half shooting just 39 percent, but stuck around by forcing 13 U-Mary turnovers, which turned into 18 first half points for the Dragons.
 
In a back and forth second half characterized by runs, U-Mary took its largest lead of the game as Brittney Dietz hit a three with 13:17 left in the game. MSUM answered with an 11-0 run started by back-to-back threes to take a four point lead. The Marauders retook the lead on a Foster three at 59-58 with 8:52 remaining, but again the Dragons had an answer as they scored the next five points to take a five point lead. Four straight points by Murray started another run for U-Mary as it built a five point lead with 3:22 left to play.
 
Holding on to the lead for the next three minutes, the Marauders found themselves with a five point lead with 40 seconds left to play. Five points from Roehrich and two missed free throws by U-Mary left MSUM with a chance to win on the final possession trailing by two with 16 seconds left to play.
 
With the Dragons scrambling to get a shot off, the Marauders committed what appeared to be a costly foul as they sent MSU Moorhead to the line with 2 seconds left to play. Fortunately, the Dragons missed both free throws as the Marauders held on for a 77-75 victory.
 
In the second half it was Murray and Foster who led the Marauders to victory combining for 27 second half points. Murray went 6-for-9 and Foster a perfect 4-for-4 in the half. U-Mary shot an impressive 52 percent from the field and went 6-for-8 from deep in the second half. Roehrich did her best to give the Dragons a chance to win scoring 12 of her game-high 21 points in the second half on 3-for-4 shooting and a perfect 4-for-4 effort from the line.
 
For the game U-Mary relied heavily on their starting lineup as they accounted for 64 of the teams 77 points.  In contrast, MSU Moorhead's bench accounted for 46 of the teams 75 points. A sloppy game throughout, the two teams combined for 39 turnovers and 50 fouls. The Dragons attempted 38 free throws to the Marauders 25.
 
Dietz added 13 points for U-Mary on 3-for-4 shooting from deep as the Marauders went 10-for-19 on the night. Freshman Hannah Larson grabbed a game and season-high nine rebounds.
 
U-Mary will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host Northern State University at 4 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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