Basketball Report: February 22
WOMEN - Minnesota Duluth 78, Nebraska-Omaha 64
Duluth, Minn. -- Nebraska-Omaha once again had trouble getting shots to fall, resulting in a 78-64 North Central Conference loss to Minnesota Duluth at Romano Gym.
Five points by Ashley Freerksen gave the Mavericks a three-point lead a minute and a half into the game, but a 3-pointer by Justine Axtell tied it up, 5-5. A layup by Lacey Geitzenauer would give UNO a 12-10 lead a couple minutes later. But the Bulldogs would immediately tie the score again, then take the lead, never to surrender it.
Four Minnesota Duluth players ended in double figures led by the 16 points of Justin Axtell. Stephanie Reiter had 13 points, Kim Wagers had 12 points and Katie Winkelman had 10 points. Axtell and Winkleman each pulled down seven boards.
The Mavericks shot only 34.5 percent on the night, and 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from 3-point range. Karen Thies led the team with 18 points, adding five rebounds, while Freerksen finished with 17 points. Geitzenauer was the top rebounder with 10 boards. Jill Wolf set career highs with 14 points - 10 coming at the free throw line - plus seven rebounds and three assists.
MEN - Minnesota Duluth 69, Nebraska-Omaha 64
Duluth, Minn. -- Nebraska-Omaha saw its chances of a first-round North Central Conference home playoff game slip away, as the Mavericks dropped a 69-64 contest to Minnesota Duluth at Romano Gym.
The difference in the game was rebounding, as UMD pulled down 38 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive side, led by Foss with 11. The Mavericks had a total of 25 rebounds, led by Price with 11.
UNO shot 52 percent in the first half, but held just a two-point lead, 30-28. The Bulldogs grabbed nine offensive rebounds, resulting in 10 second-chance points. Zac Robinson led the Mavs with eight points, while Keith Price grabbed six boards.
The Mavericks ran off a 15-6 run in just the first three minutes of the second half, taking an eleven-point lead, 45-34. But with the Bulldogs continuing to dominate on the glass, they were able to chip away at the lead, tying the score and taking a one-point lead with 7:34 left on two free throws by Bryan Foss. UMD would take a five-point lead soon after. UNO kept it within two possessions until the final seconds, when the Bulldogs iced the game with free throws.
Robinson led UNO with 20 points, hitting six 3-pointers. Michael
Jenkins added 18. Matt Hockett led UMD with 17 points. Foss scored
10 for the double-double - eight points came at the free throw
line.