MINOT, ND – It was just a matter of time. After struggling offensively the last four games, a youthful University of Mary women's basketball team found its shooting touch and scorched instate rival Minot State University 86-63. The final game before the Marauders break for Christmas, the win snaps a four-game losing streak and gives Mary a season sweep of the Beavers.
The 86 points is a season-high for Mary, exceeding its total in an 85-75 win over nationally-ranked Cal Baptist in the third game of the season. The Marauders also posted season-highs in field goal percentage (.660), 3-point percentage (.526) and 3-pointers made (10).
Lauren Rotunda scored the first basket of the game to start a 5-0 run and the Marauders never trailed. Mary (7-7 overall / 2-4 Northern Sun) broke Minot State's (2-10 / 0-6) back early with a 12-0 run. After a
Hannah Larson layup,
Rachel Weir followed with a layup and a 3-pointer.
Gabbie Bohl then hit a layup and
Dani Williams closed the Mary outburst with a 3-pointer of her own for a 23-8 Marauders lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Marauders maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the night, including an advantage of at least 20 or more points with 2:25 left in the first half.
Five Marauders reached double figures in points and nine scored. Larson and Rotunda both scored a team-high 16 points. A senior forward, Larson made 7-of-9 shots, grabbed five rebounds, distributed four assists and blocked two shots. Rotunda, a freshman guard, was 2-for-3 behind the arc and 7-of-10 overall.
Two Marauders returning to their home towns for the first time had big nights. Freshman
Cassie Askvig, who played at Minot High School, went 6-of-8 from the field and 2-for-3 behind the arc to score a career-best 15 points. Coming off the bench, she also had five rebounds and four assists. Bohl, a redshirt freshman who played for Minot Bishop Ryan, added 14 points and six rebounds.
Weir chipped in 14 points, six rebounds and three steals. The senior guard was 5-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 on 3-pointers.
Madison Wald came off the bench to knock down 5-of-8 shots behind the arc for Minot State and scored a game-high 23 points. Reserve Diondra Denton added 11 points.
Mary dominated inside, outscoring MSU 42-28 in the paint and holding a 36-26 rebounding edge. Additionally the Marauders defense limited the Beavers to 36.5 percent shooting, including a 7-of-26 effort on 3-pointers.
The Marauders return to action Dec. 30 at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
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