BISMARCK, ND – Playing what may have been their final game at the McDowell Activity Center, University of Mary women's basketball seniors Megan Zander and Lexie Schneider put on a show. The two all-conference players combined for 51 points as the Marauders downed the University of Minnesota Duluth 80-69 to sweep the season series from the three-time defending Northern Sun champion.
 
The victory pulls the Marauders (18-10 overall, 14-6 NSIC) into a 3-way tie for fourth place in the NSIC with St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State and one weekend remaining in the regular season. Minnesota State (18-2 NSIC) has clinched the conference regular season title. Northern State (15-5) stands second and Concordia-St. Paul (15-6) is third. The top four teams earn a first round bye and advance to the NSIC quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, SD. Teams 5-8 host an opening round game against teams 9-12 on Wednesday, February 28.
 
Zander scored a game-high 26 points. The Mandan, ND, native hit a pair of treys, and added two rebounds and a pair of assists. She was 11-for-18 from the field and made both free throws.
 
Schneider, the NSIC leader in points and rebounds, scored 25 points on 11-for-17 shooting while making all three of her free throws. The forward from Appleton, WI, hauled down 10 rebounds for her 13^th double double of the season and second of the weekend. She also had five assists and two blocks.
 
Mariah McKeever, a senior from Ada, MN, chipped in 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Ryleigh Wacha added eight points and nine rebounds. Cadee Ryckman grabbed a pair of rebounds as she joined fellow seniors Zander, Schneider and McKeever in the starting lineup.
 
Taytum Rhoades led UMD with 17 points. Ella Gilbertson added 13 points and eight rebounds.
 
Down 28-26 at intermission after a defensive first half, the Marauders found their offensive mojo in the second half, posting 54 points in the final 20 minutes of play while limiting the Bulldogs (16-9, 13-8) were limited to 41.
 
After UMD pulled even at 58-58 in the fourth period, the Marauders went on an 11-0 run that featured four points each from Zander and Schneider. The Bulldogs clawed back to within eight at 69-61 before the Marauders erupted for another 11-0 run to put the game away. Zander hit a three, scored a fastbreak layup and added a block to seal the win.
 
The Marauders had a 42-30 rebounding advantage and outscored the Bulldogs 48-34 in the paint. UMary shot a scintillating 53.4% from the floor while holding UMD to a 38.8% effort from the floor.
 
UMary closes the regular season with a pair of road games, playing at Wayne State College on Friday, February 24 and Augustana on Saturday, February 25.
 
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