DULUTH, MN – A dominating first quarter for the University of Mary women's basketball team was followed by disappointment in an 85-73 road loss to the University of Minnesota Duluth.
 
Behind a fast start from Hannah Larson, who scored ten points in the opening stanza, Mary led by as many as 12 points in the opening quarter. At the end of the first ten minutes of play, the Marauders held a 23-13 lead over the Bulldogs.
 
The second quarter brought a reversal of fortune. After hitting 10-of-13 shots in the first period, Mary (7-8 overall / 2-5 NSIC) made just 3-of-11 shots in the second and the Bulldogs outscored the Marauders 24-7. At half, UMD (6-4 / 5-2) led 37-30.
 
Dani Williams led a Marauders surge in the third quarter, knocking down 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Lauren Rotunda connected on a pair of free throws to cap an 8-0 run to pull Mary within 39-38. UMD responded with a 20-8 run on its way to a 64-50 lead at the end of the third.
 
Refusing to go away, a 6-0 run featuring four more points for Williams closed the gap to six points with just under three minutes left in the game. Forced to foul, Mary sent UMD to the line 14 times in the last 2:26. After missing the first free throw, the Bulldogs proceeded to hit their next 13 attempts to seal the win.
 
Behind a 4-for-6 effort behind the arc, Williams scored 16 points. She also added four assists.
 
Larson also posted 16 points, hitting two treys and both her free throws. The senior forward also had five assists and five rebounds.
 
Cassie Askvig added 14 points off the bench, making 2-of-3 trey attempts and hitting 6-of-10 shots overall. Gabbie Bohl also cracked double digits with 10 points. Rotunda, who was 6-for-6 at the free throw line, added eight points and three steals.
 
Sammy Kozlowski led the Bulldogs with 21 points, making 3-of-4 3-pointers and all eight free throws. She also had seven assists and four steals. Keyed by 16 points by Josie Buckley and 13 from Katie Stark, UMD held a 43-16 edge in bench scoring.
 
Mary shot a solid 48.1 percent for the night, including a 9-of-19 effort behind the arc. UMD was just a little better, making 13-of-22 trey attempts and shooting 54.2 percent overall. The Bulldogs also went 20-of-24 at the free throw line.
 
The Marauders next visit St. Cloud State for a New Year's Eve tilt. Game time is 4 pm.
 
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