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Moorhead clinches a share of NSIC title with a 78-61 win over Minot State women

Alex Eisen/MDN Minot State’s Raegan Sanchez (11) guards a Minnesota State Moorhead player in a Division II women’s basketball game played Friday evening at the Minot State Dome.

Out to prove their 25-point win earlier in the season wasn’t a fluke, the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons went right at the Minot State women’s basketball team Friday evening at the Minot State Dome.

Crashing the boards and raining threes, the Dragons (22-5, 18-3 NSIC) defeated the Beavers (13-14, 8-13 NSIC) by 17 points in the rematch, 78-61, to clinch a share of the NSIC regular season title.

“It was totally uninspiring play,” MSU head coach Mark Graupe said. “It started with yesterday’s practice. We had one of the worst practices of the year and I had to jump all over their case. I had to blow my whistle before practice even started to chew them out. I shouldn’t have to do that… That carried over into tonight.”

The Dragons, who received votes in the most recent Division II Top 25 poll, exerted their dominance early and doubled up the lackadaisical Beavers 24-12 in the first quarter. The kicker was Jacky Volkert making Moorhead’s fifth 3-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer.

The Beavers came into the contest being susceptible to the long ball, allowing 37.1 percent this season — second-worst in the NSIC. The Dragons exploited that by going 9-for-20 on triples in the first half.

“You pick your poison,” Graupe said. “We said quit helping in on the posts. If they score in the post, so be it. They are lethal.”

MSU’s 2-3 zone had some success in stretches but was picked apart from behind the arc. The man-to-man defense struggled to track down rebounds.

Moorhead, with a noticeable size advantage, outrebounded the Beavers 22-10 (8-0 offensive rebounds) in the first half.

The Dragons took a 15-point lead into halftime, 44-29.

Moorhead kept expanding its biggest lead of the game in the second half. It capped out at 26 points.

Graupe, meanwhile, went to his bench for some energy and urgency early into the third quarter.

MSU sophomore Calli Delsman, who had played in every game this season (averaging 7.1 points per game), stayed on the bench Friday after spraining her ankle in warmups. She was one of the few Beavers that didn’t play, as Graupe used 13 players.

“We needed a jump start. Ignite them a little bit,” Graupe said. “We subbed five in the third quarter and they chipped away at (Moorhead’s) lead.”

MSU outscored Moorhead 13-11 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overcome the Dragons 13 made 3-pointers.

Four different Dragons finished in double figures: Megan Hintz (19), Kiley Borowicz (16), Madi Green (12) and Volkert (12).

Mariah Payne was the only Beaver in double-digits with 14 points. Starting senior guard Madison Wald was held to just two points on 1-for-8 shooting.

“Tomorrow is the last game of the regular season, why do you have to get all over them about playing inspired?” Graupe said after the game on Friday. “Especially in front of your home fans and we were on a little bit of a roll. We are very disappointed.”

Despite the loss, Minot State clinched the No. 5 seed out of the NSIC North with Northern State losing 69-55 to U-Mary.

The Beavers wrap up the regular season against Northern State at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon at the MSU Dome.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

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