LAST-SECOND SHOT FOILS WOLVES AT DULUTH

Jan. 11, 2002

A buzzer-beater by Minnesota-Duluth all-American candidate Kate Madrinich gave Duluth a 67-65 win over Northern State Friday night in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at UMD's Romano Gymnasium.

The Wolves (10-5, 5-2 NSIC) had held Madrinich to just nine points before her last-second heroics and led for the most of the game between the conference heavyweights. But the Bulldogs (11-6, 4-2 NSIC) took the lead with just under four minutes remaining and were able to hold on.

NSU senior Jodi Purath (Red Lake Falls, Minn.) got a big offensive rebound late in the game and made a jumper with five seconds remaining to tie the score at 65-65. Purath led the team in rebounds (7) and assists (5) to go with four points. Senior point guard Holly Schaunaman (Leola) scored a game-high 18 points to go with six rebounds. Junior forward Shana Theobald (Brookings) scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range to round out NSU's double-digit scorers. UMD was led by Jaime Bell's 14 points and 11 rebounds.

NSU out-rebounded Duluth 38-30 and forced 17 turnovers -- six of which were from Madrinich -- while committing just 12, but it wasn't enough for the road win. The Wolves led for virtually the entire first half and by as many as eight points, but Duluth cut the lead to two at halftime (31-29) and shot 56 percent in the second stanza to defend their homecourt.

NSU will try to rebound at Bemidji State Saturday night.