ST. CLOUD, MN –
Gabbie Bohl and
Hannah Larson dominated the paint to lead the University of Mary women's basketball team to an 82-81 road win at St. Cloud State University. The Marauders front court duo celebrated New Year's Eve by combining for 39 points and 17 rebounds.
The Marauders held a 48-10 edge in points in the paint to offset the Huskies 15-6 advantage in 3-pointers. Bohl knocked down 10-of-17 shots and snared nine rebounds. The freshman forward also had two blocks. Larson scored 19 points and added eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Two other Marauders also reached double figures.
Dani Williams connected for four 3-pointers and scored 15 points. The junior guard also added three blocks. Freshman guard
Lauren Rotunda registered her first collegiate double double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. She also had five assists and two steals. Senior guard
Rachel Weir picked up a game-high seven assists and scored six points.
Mallie Doucette scored 20 points for SCSU. Betsy MacDonald hit six treys in 11 chances and posted 18 points.
A tight game throughout the night, SCSU held the largest lead of the night at nine points midway through the second quarter. Behind an 8-0 Mary run featuring two baskets and an assist by Weir, the Marauders pulled within a point before entering halftime down 41-39.
The Marauders completed their rally when Williams hit a 3-pointer to start the second half to push Mary up 42-41. Back-to-back treys by SCSU eventually put the Huskies back in front before the Marauders knotted the game 53-53 on a three-point play by Williams.
Cassie Askvig gave the Marauders the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 2:49 left in the 3
rd quarter at 61-58. A 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter headlined by a Williams trey gave the Marauders a 70-62 edge.
With the home team refusing to fade away, the Marauders held off the Huskies at every turn. Each time SCSU closed within a possession, Mary had a response.
Sawyer Kluge nailed a trey with five minutes remaining to push the Marauders advantage to 73-68. Larson hit a layup for a 75-72 lead. An Askvig layup with 31 seconds grew the advantage to 79-75. Weir eventually sealed the win with a pair for free throws with seven seconds remaining to provide Mary an 82-78 lead, allowing the Marauders to withstand a late SCSU 3-pointer in the closing moments.
The Marauders shot 47.2 percent for the game to 40.3 percent for the Huskies.
Mary returns home to host Northern State and MSU Moorhead on Jan. 6-7 at the McDowell Activity Center.
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