WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University and the University of Mary went toe-to-toe Saturday afternoon inside McCown Gymnasium in a game that could have postseason implications in just three weeks when the conference tournament begins. In the end, the Warriors won their fifth straight home game with a gritty 57-54 victory over the Marauders.
Allie Pickrain (22 points) and Emily Kieck (21) were a prolific offensive duo, while the WSU defense limited one of the top scorers in the NSIC in Mary's Gabbie Bohl to just 11 points.
Coming off a historic three-point shooting night in which the Warriors knocked down 15 treys Friday, the home team knocked down six more in the first half Saturday at a 50 percent clip against UMary. Pickrain, who drilled seven on Friday, opened the scoring for WSU on Saturday with another three-point basket.
With the Marauders leading 13-7 late in the first quarter, Gabie Doud converted the old-fashioned three-point play and followed it up with a steal on the defensive end and another bucket to put the Warriors in front 13-12. UMary would take an 18-14 advantage into the second frame before WSU got hot on both ends of the court.
The Warriors charged in front during the second quarter, showing signs of Friday night's performance with a 5-for-7 effort in the period from beyond the arc. Kieck and Pickrain each nailed a pair of three-pointers over the final six minutes of the frame as part of an eight-point WSU run into halftime that saw the home team claim a 33-27 lead that they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the contest. Meanwhile, the WSU defense limited the Marauders to just nine points in the second quarter.
UMary showed no signs of going away in the second half, outscoring Winona State 12-9 in the third period. The Warriors' largest advantage of the night came late in the third quarter on a pair of free throws by Kieck as she reached 20 points on the night to give WSU a seven-point edge. However, the Marauders closed the frame on a four-point run to cut the Warrior lead to 42-39 heading into the fourth.
The Warrior faithful were on the edge of their seats the remainder of the game as WSU and UMary traded baskets to set up an exciting finish.
The Marauders worked their way within a single point twice in the fourth quarter but could not keep from fouling the Warriors, allowing Winona State five trips to the line in the frame. The Warriors took advantage of the opportunity sinking 8-of-10 attempts from the stripe down the stretch before escaping a last-second heave by UMary at the final buzzer.
Winona State dominated the glass with a 36-22 rebounding edge, including 10 offensive boards which led to 12 second-chance points. Senior Rachel Novotny pulled down 11 rebounds while Doud recorded eight.
The Warriors improve to 13-9 (11-7 NSIC) with their third straight win and their fifth in the last six games. UMary falls to 14-7 (12-6 NSIC).
Winona State will travel to Sioux Falls and SMSU next weekend for its final road trip of the regular season before the Warriors final homestand on February 22-23.
