The Minnesota State Moorhead women's basketball team's game against Valley City State started out as a disaster.
It ended in a rout.
The Dragons, playing in their home opener, erased a 13-point first-half deficit en route to an 81-55 nonconference victory against the Vikings on Tuesday at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
"Coach was pretty excited about it," said MSUM guard Brietta Bowerman of the Dragons' early woes.
"We didn't have enough defensive pressure, we had no energy level at all. And they were making everything."
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But the roles were reversed midway through the first half.
MSUM (1-1, 0-0 NSIC) outscored Valley City State 23-6 during the end of the first half and into the second to pull away.
The tide was turned with a 15-4 MSUM run early in the first.
Guards Kris Wilson and Bowerman led the charge, combining for 22 points for the Dragons in the first half. The duo were 10 of 10 from the field and 1 of 1 from beyond the arc before halftime.
"I think a lot of it was the physicality of the game," VCSU coach Jill DeVries said. "They kind of wore us out."
MSUM outrebounded the Vikings 39-23.
The Vikings used a 14-0 run to take a 20-7 first-half lead. VCSU held the Dragons scoreless for nearly six minutes during the run.
But Bowerman helped the Dragons turn things around midway through the first half.
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The sophomore guard scored six consecutive points on three short jump shots to cut the Vikings' lead to 24-22.
"We needed something," Bowerman said. "When they came out on me, I just tried to take it to the hoop."
A pair of 3-pointers from Brenna Rollie and Kris Wilson put MSUM ahead 33-30 with 4:04 remaining in the first half.
The Dragons finished the first half with an 8-0 run to take a 43-33 halftime advantage.
MSUM held the Vikings to just three points during the final four minutes of the first half.
Dana Weibel finished with 18 points to lead the Dragons.
The Vikings were led by Jessica James's 17 points and three assists.
"We wanted them to beat us from the 3-point line," DeVries said. "They missed a few 3s in the first half and that kept us in it. But I thought they did a great job of dribble penetration in the second."
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The Dragons finished 8 of 22 from beyond the arc and 17-for-21 from the free throw line.
VCSU (3-3): J. James 6-10 4-6 17, K. Engelby 1-4 0-0 2, Turcotte 1-6 6-6 8, Larson 2-6 2-2 6, Hall 2-8 0-0 4, Matthews 0-1 0-0 0, O'Neill 2-6 3-3 7, N. James 4-6 0-0 8, Orthman 0-2 1-2 0, Floyed 0-0 0-0 0, Pfaff 0-1 0-0 0, D. Engelby 1-3 0-1 2. Totals 19-53 16-20 55.
MSUM (1-1): Doerr 1-6 3-3 5, Weibel 6-10 4-6 18, Wilson 5-7, Davis 0-3 0-0 0, Klukas 3-4 2-4 8, Bowerman 5-6 2-2 12, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Hartman 3-7 0-0 8, Parker 1-1 2-2 5, Thon 1-4 2-2 5, Rollie 1-3 0-0 3, Fesemaier 2-4 1-1 5. Totals 28-55 17-21 81.
Halftime: MSUM 43, VCSU 33. 3-point goals: VCSU 1-1 (J. James 1-1), MSUM 8-22 (Doerr 0-4, Weibel 2-4, Wilson 1-1, Bowerman 0-1, Hartman 2-5, Parker 1-1, Thon 1-1, Rollie 1-2). Total fouls: VCSU 17, MSUM 16. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Rebounds: VCSU 23 (N. James 5), MSUM 39 (Fesenamaier 8). Assists: VCSU 8 (J. James 3), MSUM 18 (Rollie 4). Turnovers: VCSU 19 (N. James 6), MSUM 26 (Bowerman 5). Steals: VCSU 14 (Larson, N. James 3), MSUM 9 (Doerr, Klukas, Rollie 2).
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
