ABERDEEN, SD – A season-high scoring performance by Megan Zander led the University of Mary women's basketball team to a huge road victory 77-72 over Northern State University in a meeting between two of the top teams in the Northern Sun this season. UMary is undefeated on the road in NSIC play this season, winning all eight games.
 
The Marauders moved into a 3-way tie for third place in the NSIC, joining the Wolves and Concordia-St. Paul with records of 11-4. Southwest Minnesota State, who the Marauders defeated last Friday on the road, is second at 11-3. Minnesota State University tops the conference at 14-1. UMary split the season series with Northern State and has beaten both SMSU and CSP.   
 
The crucial play of the game came with 1:49 left in the game as Lexie Schneider grabbed an offensive rebound and finished a crucial layup while getting fouled. A Wolves player was assessed for a technical foul, which led to two Zander free throws plus the one that Schneider earned. UMary then led 73-68 and kept possession of the basketball. The Marauders went on to hit their free throws late and earned a big conference win.
 
Zander scored 21 of her 26 points in the second half, including six vital free throws with less than two minutes remaining to help seal off the win. The senior shot 6-of-15 from the field, 3-of-8 from behind the arc and 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Mandan, ND, native also brought down seven rebounds.
 
Schneider recorded her tenth double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. On her first basket of the night she became just the 11^th player all-time in the NSIC with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in league games, joining former Marauders Gabbie Bohl and Cassie Askvig in that rare club. Schneider is the 30^th player to score 1,000 points in NSIC play, joining Bohl, Askvig and Brittney Dietz in accomplishing that feat.   
 
Ashton Kinnebrew dropped 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three and earned three steals. McKeever added 12 points to go along with two steals.
 
The first half saw both teams go back-and-forth, with neither team able to take a big lead as the score was tied 37-37 heading into halftime. The Marauders took a 55-49 lead into the fourth quarter after UMary shot 4-of-8 from three in the third quarter. Clutch plays by Schneider and Zander in the finals led the Marauders to a 77-72 win.
 
UMary (15-8, 11-4 Northern Sun) shot 37.9 percent from the field while shooting 6-of-18 from behind the arc. NSU (15-6, 10-4 NSIC) recorded a 37.5 shooting percentage from the field while going 7-of-16 from three.
 
The Marauders went 21-of-25 from the charity stripe, while the Cougars shot 23-of-27 from the free throw line. UMary came up big on the glass, outrebounding USF 43-34 and 15-7 on offensive rebounds.
 
Madelyn Bragg led the Wolves with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
 
The Marauders return home to Bismarck, ND, to take on state rivals Minot State University (8-16, 5-10 NSIC) on Saturday, February 3, at 3:30 pm.  
 
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