Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Winona State University women's basketball team was knocked out of the NSIC Tournament on Wednesday, February 28, falling on the road at MSU Moorhead by a 72-67 scoreline.
Winona State 10-18,9-13 NSIC) was led by Olivia Gamoke with 18 points, which Emma Carpenter (15), Hailey Markworth (12) and Alex Dornfeld (10) all reaching double-digits. Dornfeld also hauled in 14 rebounds to claim her seventh double-double of the season.
How it Happened:
WSU raced out to a 21-10 lead in the opening ten minutes of play. Emma Carpenter scored the first two Warrior baskets, scoring a layup followed by a 3-pointer moments later. Olivia Gamoke also hit back-to-back baskets that allowed Winona State to pull ahead 11-8 just under the four-minute mark.
In the second quarter, the Dragons reversed roles with Warriors, with MSU Moorhead outscoring WSU 23-10. Although Vanessa Alexander would score the opening points of the period on a layup down low, MSU Moorhead would use a 6-0 run to mount a comeback.
At the Half: MSU Moorhead 33, Winona State 31
The third quarter saw Winona State held to just nine points in the frame, with Emma Carpenter accounting for five in a 45 second span to open play. Carpenter connected on a mid-range jumper early on and hit a three-pointer at the 8:30 mark moments later. WSU suffered a long scoreless streak in the middle of the third, eventually broken when Alex Dornfeld hit a layup at 2:36.
In the fourth and final frame, WSU saw the host Dragons hit the the first two shots of the last ten minutes, but Hailey Markworth helped spark a Warrior rally 45 seconds into the frame, hitting a jumper in the paint. Winona State nearly completed the battle-back effort when Kaitlyn Schrimpf knocked down a 3-pointer to pull WSU to within four points at 65-61.
Unfortunately for Winona State, the Dragons would stand tall at the free throw line in waning minutes, as MSU Moorhead went 6-for-6 at the charity stripe after the Warriors were forced to foul. The Dragons would advance to the NSIC Quarterfinal with a 72-67 victory over Winona State.
WSU Stats Standouts:
Olivia Gamoke 18 points, 2 steals
Emma Carpenter 15 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Hailey Markworth 12 points, 4 rebounds
Alex Dornfeld 10 points, 14 rebounds
Team Stats Comparables:
Winona State was 8-of-27 (29.6%) from 3-point territory while the Dragons were 7-of-26 (26.9%) from behind the arc.
WSU hit 1-of-6 three-point attempts combined in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, but was 4-of-11 on 3s in the fourth.
The benches of the two teams hit nearly identical point totals, as the WSU reserves scored 24 points and the Dragon subs 25.
Beyond the Boxscore:
Alex Dornfeld notched her seventh double-double in the 2023-24 campgain.
WSU has dropped their last three games versus MSU Moorhead
The two squads are 3-3 over their last six games.
The Warrior coaching staff of Ana Wurtz, Hannah McGlone and Emily Kieck all competed in the NSIC Tournament during their respective playing careers at Winona State.
