For immediate release: February 10, 2007 Morris, MN-The University of Minnesota-Morris moved into at least a tie for second place in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) women’s basketball standings with an 88-70 win over Bethany Lutheran College Saturday afternoon at the P.E. Center.
Minnesota-Morris jumped out to a 6-0 lead, just 90 seconds into the first half all three baskets were lay-ups, two from Tynell Kocer (So. Pierre, SD) and one from Christina Odegard (So. Forest Lake, MN).
Bethany Lutheran made it a tow point game at 7-5 on a Jessica Merseth (Sr. Mankato, MN) three-point play with 17:06 on the clock.
The Cougars used a very aggressive transition game to get some easy baskets in the first half.
A 13-5 scoring run by the Cougars put UMM on top 20-10 on Arielle Anderson’s (Jr. Wayzata, MN) basket with 15:26 left in the half.
Once again the Vikings made it a two possession game at 22-17 on a Merseth Lay-up.
Jamie Rainey (So. Maple Grove, MN) hit a jumper from the left corner and back-to-back baskets by Marissa Maynard (So. Blaine, MN) pushed the Cougar lead to eight at 26-18.
The Cougars led by as many as 10 points in the first half and took a 42-35 lead into the locker room at the half.
Minnesota-Morris forced 19 first half turnovers by BLC and connected on 18-of-38 (47.4%) from the field in the first half.
In the first half, points in the paint went to Minnesota-Morris with a 16-10 and the Cougars had a 17-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
Bethany went to the free-throw line 15 times in the first half, connecting on 12 of those attempts (80%), UMM was just 2-of-7.
Bethany made it a two point deficit seven times in the first eight minutes of the second half.
The Cougars took a five point lead at 52-47 following a Marissa Maynard three-pointer with 14:25 remaining in the second half.
BLC took their first lead of the game at 59-58 on a pair of Leslie Bremer (Jr. Northrup, MN) free-throws at the 11:59 mark of the second half.
Minnesota-Morris had an answer for every surge by the Vikings in the second half.
The next 4:30 seconds of the game is were the Cougars turned things on to regain control.
After Marissa Maynrd tied the game at 59-59 with one of two free-throws, Coresa Leighty (So. New Ulm, MN) gave UMM the lead again at 61-59 with a 12 foot jumper on the left side of the lane.
That sparked a 12-1 run by the Cougars as they would open up a 70-60 lead with 7:08 left in the game on Coresa Leighty’s shot in the lane.
It would be a lead the Cougars would never give up.
Minnesota-Morris outscored the Vikings 18-10 to close out the game and pick up one of the biggest wins of the season.
For the first time this season, the Cougars had six players in double figures.
For the second straight ballgame, Alaina Benson finished with 18 points and seven assists.
Tynell Kocer added 18 points, Coresa Leighty 13, Annika Bergman (Sr. Superior, WI) finished with 11.
Jamie Rainey and Marissa Maynard each added 10 points.
Leslie Bremer led all scorers with 26 and added 17 rebounds for the Vikings.
A total of 62 free-throws were shot in the game.
Minnesota-Morris was 22-of-32 (68.8%), BLC, 23-of-30 (76.7%).
The win, was the fourth straight by the Cougars (12-10, 8-3 UMAC).
UMM is on the road next weekend as they take on St. Scholastica Friday, February 17th at 5:30 in Duluth. Then on Saturday, the Cougars take on Northland College at 3:00 in Ashland, WI.
Newspaper Box Score Bethany Lutheran vs University of Minnesota-Morris 2/10/07 3:00 PM at Minnesota-Morris P.E. Center-Morris, MN At Minnesota-Morris P.E. Center-Morris, MN UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS 88, BETHANY LUTHERAN 70 BETHANY LUTHERAN (16-7, 9-3 UMAC) Merseth, Jessica 8-21 10-12 26; Gudahl, Casey 5-9 3-4 14; Parochka, Laura 2-13 2-4 7; Voss, Eva 2-8 2-4 6; Bremer, Leslie 1-4 4-4 6; Hines, Cali 3-4 0-0 6; Erdman, Molly 1-3 0-0 3; Kahle, Lindsey 0-6 2-2 2; Wollin, Chelsea 0-0 0-0 0; Olson, Rachel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-68 23-30 70. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS (12-10, 8-3 UMAC) Benson,Alaina 6-9 4-4 18; Kocer,Tynell 4-6 8-12 18; Leighty,Coresa 5-15 3-4 13; Bergman,Annika 4-8 2-4 11; Rainey,Jamie 4-7 2-2 10; Maynard,Marissa 4-9 1-2 10; Odegard,Christina 2-7 1-2 5; Anderson,Arielle 1-4 1-2 3; Swenstad,Kristie 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 22-32 88. Bethany Lutheran.............. 35 35 - 70 University of Minnesota-Morris 42 46 - 88 3-point goals-Bethany Lutheran 3-16 (Parochka, Laura 1-6; Gudahl, Casey 1-3; Erdman, Molly 1-3; Kahle, Lindsey 0-2; Merseth, Jessica 0-2), University of Minnesota-Morris 6-16 (Kocer,Tynell 2-3; Benson,Alaina 2-5; Bergman,Annika 1-4; Maynard,Marissa 1-2; Rainey,Jamie 0-2). Fouled out--Bethany Lutheran-Merseth, Jessica, University of Minnesota-Morris-Rainey,Jamie. Rebounds-Bethany Lutheran 47 (Merseth, Jessica 17), University of Minnesota-Morris 45 (Benson,Alaina 7). Assists-Bethany Lutheran 13 (Merseth, Jessica 3; Parochka, Laura 3), University of Minnesota-Morris 26 (Benson,Alaina 7). Total fouls-Bethany Lutheran 26, University of Minnesota-Morris 22. A-146 Six players reach double figures for Minnesota Morris. UMM wins its fourth straight. Cougars with the win move into at least a tie for 2nd place in the UMAC. Minnesota Morris at St. Scholastica SAT. Feb. 16th at 5:30 PM.