LAST WEEK: The University of Mary took care of business last weekend by finishing the regular season with a sweep and clinching the second seed in the North Division. With a win of MSU Moorhead on Friday, the Marauders clinched a home play-off game and by winning on Saturday against Northern State they locked up the second seed in the north and a match-up with Upper Iowa.
After losing a heart-breaker to MSU Moorhead earlier this season, U-Mary held on for an 81-79 win behind Shaunna Knife's career-high 24 points. The Marauders led by as many as 15 in the second, but the Dragons refused to go away and had a chance to down the stretch. MSU Moorhead took possession with 17 seconds remaining and the game on the line. The Dragons were able to get into the paint, but the Marauders defense forced a miss with two seconds remaining. Shanara Clark corralled the rebound and hit 1-of-2 free throw as U-Mary held on for the win. Ali Collins 18 and Brittney Dietz added 13 off the bench for U-Mary.
U-Mary completed the weekend sweep with a 68-62 win over Northern State. Dietz sparked the Marauders off the bench for the second straight night. The redshirt freshman scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Senior Laura Petersen also came up big finishing with 13 points and career-high 11 rebounds for her first career double double. Despite a slow first half, Knife scored a game-high 19 points and led the Marauders in assists with six. The 5-11 senior continued her excellent defensive play finishing the game with four blocks.
Today U-Mary will host Upper Iowa in the opening round of the 2013 NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament.
THE RECORDS: With a 13-9 record in the NSIC U-Mary finished tied for 5th in the conference overall, and second in the North Division. With a 4-18 conference record, Upper Iowa finished 15th in the NSIC and 7th in the South Division.
REMATCH: Down 7-0 to start the game it looked as though U-Mary was on pace to be upset by Upper Iowa. The Marauders, however, chipped away at the Peacock lead and held on to win 85-76. U-Mary was led by the all-around effort of senior Shaunna Knife. Knife finished with 14 points and had a career-high 15 rebounds. Knife also added five blocks and four assists. Carly Pagel, one of four Upper Iowa players in double figures, led the way with a game-high 22 points on 8-13 shooting. The Peacocks out shot the Marauders 44 to 38 percent in the game, but U-Mary held an advantage from beyond the arc (50 to 47) and from the free throw line (85 to 77).
THE SERIES: The Marauders hold a 9-2 advantage over the Peacocks in the all-time series and has won the last seven meetings between the two teams.
NEXT ROUND: If the Marauders defeat Upper Iowa tonight they will advance to the second round to host the winner of Augustana and Minot State on Saturday.
