Box Score MORRIS, Minn. -  The North Central University (NCU) women's basketball team hit the road in search of their sixth straight victory as they squared off against the University of Minnesota Morris. The Rams looked poised to continue their win streak, but a second half offensive explosion from the Cougars was too much to overcome as the Rams would see their win streak snapped in a 74-43 loss on the road. Despite the loss this afternoon, the Rams have clinched a spot in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) post season tournament thanks to a loss by the Saints of St. Scholastica. This is the first time that the program has qualified for the UMAC postseason tournament in program history.

Game Vitals

• The loss is the Ram's first since Jan. 16th (L, 65-56 to Bethany Lutheran College)
• NCU led 25-15 at halftime
• The Cougars outscored the Rams 52- 13 in the second half.

Game Recap

• Neither team was able to find their way offensively early in the contest as both clubs struggled to find the bottom of the net. Both teams slowly traded blows, but could nto quite find much separation as the Rams led 10-7 after the first quarter. The Rams continued to disrupt what the Cougars wanted to do offensively, holding them to only 8 second quarter points. NCU started find some touch offensively in the second quarter behind a couple big threes, one coming from Betty Rand at the halftime buzzer to send the Rams to the break with a 30-22 lead. After shooting a porous 26.5% from the field in the first half, the Cougars dominated the final twenty minutes. The Cougars flipped the script on the Rams as they turned them over 7 times and outscored them 30-8 in the third quarter. Morris refused to take their foot off the gas as they outscored the Rams 22 to 5 in the final quarter as the Rams fell 74-43 on the road. 

 
Key Performers

• Haleigh Filer  - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• Allison Bulthuis - 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
• Naomi Hagstrom - 8 points, 2 rebounds

 
Next Up

• If the season were to end this afternoon, NCU would be tied with the Eagles of Northwestern for the 4th seed in the UMAC. With just two games left, the Rams will look to improve their postseason seed next Wednesday, February 13th, as they take on Bethany Lutheran College.

MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Justin Brown at 612-343-3539 or email Jdbrown@northcentral.edu.