BISMARCK, N.D. - For the second time this season the University of Mary Women's Basketball team hosted an undefeated opponent at the McDowell Activity Center, and for the second time the Marauder employed a steadfast defense in the second half to give the University of Sioux Falls their first loss of the season.
 
The Marauders held the Cougars to 15 second-half points, Sloan Turner got some key blocks in the waning minutes, and U-Mary overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to win the game 62-58.
 
U-Mary struggled out of the gate to begin the game as the Cougars established good ball movement and took an early 13-9 lead at the first media break. From there, Sioux Falls extended their lead to 23-17 at the second media break and the Marauders could not get the offense going. The Cougars kept the pressure up and fired off a 14-6 run that lasted until the final media break of the first half to go up 37-23 on the Marauders. The Marauders couldn't do much else as they needed to make some adjustments and went into halftime down 43-29.
 
The second half is where the real action took place.
 
The Marauders slowly chipped away at the Cougar lead, and U-Mary needed the entire second half to do it. Both teams exchanged baskets up until the first media timeout of the second half, but the Marauders were still down 49-36. What U-Mary needed was a run and they got one as they rallied off eight of the next 10 points to cut into Sioux Falls' lead at 51-44 at the second break.
 
U-Mary finally tied the score for the first time since the game started at 52 apiece with 7:57 left on the clock, but unfortunately they became victims to a cruel joke that life likes to throw out every once in a while.
 
With 6:55 on the clock, Brittney Dietz was scrambling for a loose ball and took an elbow from another player, forcing her to sit out the rest of the game. The Marauders were without their leading scorer for the better part of seven minutes, but that didn't slow down their efforts.
 
Sioux Falls pulled ahead before the final break of the half, but the Marauders stayed right with them and knotted the score at 54-54 less than five minutes remaining in the game. The Cougars pulled ahead at 3:19 thanks to a quick layup, but Turner had other ideas as she threw up a clutch layup that banked into the net and the Marauders tied the score again at 56-56 with 2:07 left.
 
Haley Hibbs finally said enough is enough, took the ball up court and fired off a long three to give U-Mary the lead at 59-56 with 1:36 left on the clock. The Cougars tried to keep the score close, but Turner stepped into the lane and blocked a critical layup to keep the Marauders ahead by three.

On the next offensive possession for U-Mary, Hibbs was fouled and went to the line needing only one basket to make it a two-possession game. One shot was all she got and the Marauders held a 60-56 lead with 1:03 left in the game. The Cougars, again, drove down the court and went inside to cut the margin down, but this time Dani Williams was there and blocked the layup, but the Cougars grabbed the rebound and were fouled.
 
After two free throws from Sioux Falls, the Marauders went to inbound the ball but the Cougars forced a turnover and had a chance to tie the game. Turner, again, stepped into the lane and blocked the potential tying layup, but the Cougars grabbed the rebound and called a timeout.
 
On the next possession, Sioux Falls instead went to the perimeter and tried for the go-ahead shot, but the shot went wide and the Marauders finally grabbed the rebound. Dani Williams was fouled on the next inbound and went to the line ready to secure the victory. She nailed both free throws and the Marauders had the game in hand at 62-58 with five second left.
 
Sioux Falls launched a last-second three-pointer but it didn't matter and U-Mary handed the Cougars their first loss of the season, 62-58
 
Defense was the MVP of the second half, the Marauders held Sioux Falls to 6-for-35 shooting from the field in the second half, including 0-for-10 from beyond the arc. In total, U-Mary outscored the Cougars 33-15 and had six blocks as a team.
 
Despite exiting the game with an injury, Dietz still finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 32 minutes played.
 
Hannah Larson recorded her third double double of the year off 10 points and 12 rebounds, but also finished with three assists, two blocks and four steals in 32 minutes of action.
 
Hibbs' three-pointer may have come at the right time, but she was still involved in all aspects of the game with 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.
 
Turner got the call from the bench tonight and it was a call she answered. She earned 14 points, four rebounds and four blocks in 22 minutes. It was her second game in a row with four blocks.
 
The Marauders (5-6, 3-2 NSIC) will have one more game before Christmas break as they head upstate next week to take on Minot State University on Friday, Dec. 19.
 
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