BULLDOGS UPEND WOLVES IN NSIC SEMIFINAL

March 2, 2002

Shana Theobald connects on a 3-pointer early in NSU's semifinal game against Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.

It was a game of spurts, and unfortunately for Northern State fans, the Wolves didn't have the last run in a 77-70 loss to Minnesota-Duluth Saturday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament semifinal game at Concordia-St. Paul.

It was the third straight season UMD ended the Wolves' season. NSU finished at 19-9 overall.

Northern answered a 6-2 UMD spurt from the opening tip with a 19-5 run to take its biggest lead at 21-11 with 11 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the first half. From there, it was Duluth's turn to dominate again with a 29-9 run to end the half.

UMD went into the locker rooms with a 40-30 lead, but Northern responded with an 11-0 spurt to start the second and took what would be its last lead of the game at 41-40 with 15 minutes remaining. Like clockwork, Duluth went on another run of its own to build its lead to seven points at 59-52 with eight minutes remaining. Northern would pull to within one, but couldn't get over the hump in the loss.

Senior guard Holly Schaunaman (Leola), who suffered what amounts to a turf toe in her right foot at the team's shoot around Friday night, came back strong despite the injury, tying for a team-high 14 points. Freshman post Natalie Hopkins (St. Louis Park, Minn.) also netted 14 to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Kate Madrinich led Duluth with 20 points to go with eight rebounds.

Northern, which ranks in the nation's top 10 in rebounding margin, was uncharacteristically out-boarded Saturday. UMD won the rebounding war 38-32 and grabbed 14 offensive boards.

The game served as the final contest for Northern seniors Schaunaman, Jodi Purath (Red Lake Falls, Minn.), Amanda Dietrich (Mandan, N.D.), Sara Hemquist (Baxter, Minn.) and Shanna Dahl (St. Cloud, Minn.).

Duluth moves on to the NSIC Championship game Sunday at 2 p.m. to face the winner of the Southwest State/Minnesota State-Moorhead semifinal.