Feb. 10, 2001

Northern State University took it to defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion Minnesota-Duluth in the
Bulldogs' backyard Saturday with a 77-62 win in Duluth.

The Wolves (14-8 overall, 10-4 NSIC) controlled the game from the outset and and enjoyed double-digit leads throughout.
The win was NSU's first in Duluth since the 1993-94 season. It also avenged a loss to the Bulldogs in Aberdeen Jan. 5. Most
importantly, the win almost assures NSU a first-round playoff game at home. With Wayne State losing at home to Southwest
State tonight, the Wolves are now tied for third in the conference. SSU remains at first in the conference, while Duluth (14-8,
11-3) remains at second. The top four team in the NSIC host first-round games.

Fittingly, NSU was led by its three seniors, who earned their first career win in Romano Gymnasium. Forward Memory
Johannsen (Tolstoy) scored 16 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. She also drew the assignment on UMD's
most explosive player, Mary Barker, and held the guard to just 2-of-15 shooting and eight points. Fellow senior forward
Natalie Braun (Warner) chipped in 10 points and added five rebounds. Braun scored six of NSU's first 12 points out of the
gates to help her team get off to a 12-2 lead in the first five minutes, and the team never looked back. Senior post Jennifer
Murphy (Aberdeen) loomed equally large, grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds to go with eight points. Freshman guard Carin
Rambow (Litchfield, Minn.) rounded out NSU's double-digit scorers with 10 points. Junior guard Sara Hemquist (Baxter,
Minn.) was all over the place defensively, grabbing a game-high six steals on the night. UMD was led by Kate Madrinich's 13
points.

NSU exploded to a 41-23 halftime lead. The stunned Bulldogs regrouped in the second half, but could only cut the lead to
nine in the second half, but it was as close as they would come.

NSU hosts Minnesota-Morris on Valentine's Day Wednesday, Feb. 14. It is NSU's last regular season home-game. Tip-off is
set for 5:30 p.m. in the Barnett Center. The game was originally scheduled to take place Jan. 13, but was postponed due to
inclement weather.