SIOUX FALLS, SD – Stellar performances by
Lexie Schneider,
Megan Zander and
Mariah McKeever lead the University of Mary women's basketball team to the finals of the Northern Sun tournament for the first time in program history. UMary took down the University of Minnesota Duluth in a thrilling 83-75 win.
UMary challenges Minnesota State University, Mankato for the NSIC Championship on Tuesday, March 5, at 7 pm in Sioux Falls, SD, at the Sanford Pentagon. A win would see the Marauders clinch an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Schneider showed why she was named the NSIC Player of the Year, posting 31 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. The Appleton, WI, native shot 13-of-25 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line.
Zander scored 20 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. The senior also recorded five rebounds, five assists and two assists.
Mariah McKeever shot 6-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the charity stripe. The Ada, MN, native contributed five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Ryleigh Wacha had seven points, going 3-of-4 from the field.
The game went back and forth, with neither team gaining much of an advantage. With 5:12 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Marauders trailed the Bulldogs 69-68. UMary outscored UMD 15-6 after Lexie Schnieder hit a turnaround jumper to give the Marauders the lead.
Two critical plays came on the defensive end.
Megan Zander blocked Taytum Rhoades's layup attempt and then hit a three in transition to give UMary a 75-69 lead with 2:29 left.
The other key moment came when
Ryleigh Wacha stopped a fast break by herself when she deflected a pass that would have led to a wide-open layup for UMD with 55 seconds left. Had the Bulldogs hit the layup, they would have cut the lead to two points. Instead, the Marauders got a stop, and Zander went to the line to give the Marauders a 79-73 lead with 42 seconds remaining.
UMary (22-10, 16-6 Northern Sun) shot 50.9 percent from the field while shooting 5-of-14 from three. UMD (19-10, 14-8 NSIC) recorded a 48.4 shooting percentage from the floor while going 5-of-19 from behind the arc.
The Marauders went 22-of-28 from the charity, while the Bulldogs shot 10-of-17 from the free throw line. UMary was dominant on the glass, out rebounding UMD 36-24.
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