BEMIDJI, MN – An unstoppable run by University of Mary guard Megan Zander sparked a huge second half effort for the Marauders that turned a taut contest into a rout. With Zander scoring on five straight possessions, UMary turned a small advantage into a decisive 84-52 road win at Bemidji State University.
 
The Marauders, who moved into third place in the Northern Sun standings with the win, outscored the Beavers 50-28 in the second half and posted 48 of the final 67 points. UMary improved to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC with the Marauders second straight win. BSU slips to 3-8 and 0-7.
 
UMary attempted to shake Bemidji State in the first half, closing the second quarter with a 12-2 run to take a 34-24 lead at intermission.
 
After the Beavers closed within 36-31 early in the third, Zander imposed her will on the Beavers defense. The senior from Mandan, ND, scored on five straight possessions for the Marauders. First scoring on back to back layups, the second off a steal from Megan Voit, Zander hit three straight jumpers to rack up 10 points as UMary pushed its lead back to double digits at 46-36.
 
UMary kept pushing. A three from Julia Fitterer and a layup and trey from Voit increased the Marauders advantage to 58-43 at the end of the third period. A Zander 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run to start the final period and a 15-0 run overall to push the UMary advantage to an insurmountable 30 points at 73-43.
 
The 32 point win was the largest margin of victory in a Northern Sun contest for UMary since defeating MSU Moorhead 82-49 on December 2, 2021. Additionally the 32 point differential was the most for the Marauders in an NSIC road win since a 111-72 victory at the University of Minnesota Crookston on January 9, 2011.
 
Zander finished with a game-high 21 points. She added four rebounds and three assists.
 
Voit posted an efficient 16 points, knocking down 5-of-9 shots and hitting three treys.
 
Moriku Hakim came off the bench to score 14 points and haul down a team-best six rebounds. She finished 6-of-9 from the floor. Reese Wishart added nine points in a reserve roll as the UMary bench held a 38-10 scoring advantage over BSU.
 
Trinity Yoder led BSU with 14 points. Maddie Schires added 13.
 
The Marauders did a tremendous job converting turnovers into points. Finishing +5 in turnovers, UMary scored 28 points off 18 Bemidji State miscues while the Beavers turned 13 Marauders turnovers into only seven points.
 
UMary closes out 2022 at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, December 31. Game time on New Year's Eve is 1 pm.
 
#marauders#