MOORHEAD, Minn. - Leah Dengerud and Julia Bengtson combined for 32 points shooting 11-11 from the field in No. 16 Concordia-St. Paul's (13-1, 7-1 NSIC) 78-54 win over MSU Moorhead (6-7, 4-3 NSIC). The Golden Bears finished 28-53 (52.8%) from the field for their highest shooting percentage in a game this season.
Dengerud finished the game with 16 points shooting 5-5 from the field, 3-3 from behind the arc and 3-3 from the free-throw line. Bengtson also tallied 16 points shooting 6-6 from the field, 2-2 from behind the arc and 2-2 from the free-throw line.
Concordia-St. Paul started the game strong shooting 6-6 (100%) on 3-pointers in the opening quarter. Megan Gamble and Bengtston each made a 3-pointer while Lydia Haack and Dengerud hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter. Haack and Dengerud each scored eight points in the opening period.
CSP led 24-8 after the first quarter. The 16-point margin was Concordia's fourth-largest point differential in a quarter this season. The six 3-pointers are the second-most the Golden Bears have made in a quarter this season, behind the seven they made in the third quarter vs. Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 21.
After the Golden Bears shot 8-12 (66.7%) in the opening quarter, they followed that up by shooting 8-14 (57.1%) in the second quarter to finish the half 16-26 (61.6%). The Golden Bears kept up the 3-point shooting, starting the game 8-10 (80%) from behind the arc.
Emma Mommsen and Dengerud each scored six points in the quarter and CSP led 45-18 at halftime. The 27-point halftime margin was CSP's third-largest margin this season. The 18 points are the second-lowest against CSP in the first half this season, which is also behind Minnesota Duluth at 16 points. The Golden Bears have allowed 34 first-half points in the last two games.
Bengtson emerged in the third quarter scoring 11 points shooting 5-5 from the field. The Golden Bears shot 10-17 (58.8%) to outscore MSU Moorhead 24-17 in the period. CSP also saw its largest lead of the game at 36 points in this period.
Lauren Wilson led the Golden Bears with seven points in the final quarter to secure the victory. She scored all her points in the fourth quarter and grabbed three rebounds as well. Lauren Feddema also added two points at the free-throw line.
Photo by Becca Hanson / MSU Moorhead
Haack finished with 10 points, two assists and two steals. Gamble scored nine points while tying for the team-high in rebounds with six. She also tied a career-high five assists, leading the Golden Bears. Gamble also hit that assist mark earlier this season vs. Southwest Minnesota State on Dec. 7.
Mikayla Kanenwisher scored six points with a team-high four assists. That tied her season-high in assists and she also added two steals. Ashley Schuelke scored six points with a career-high six rebounds. Mommsen finished with six points and five rebounds.
Senior center Lindsey Becher got into foul trouble early and only played 12:36 in the game. She did not score, but made her impact elsewhere with four rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal. She is now three blocks away from surpassing Kionda Nicks' career blocks record of 264.
CSP outscored MSUM 34-16 and the Golden Bear bench outscored the Dragon bench 27-18. Concordia outrebounded Moorhead 35-29. Each team had 14 turnovers. MSU Moorhead never led.
Concordia held MSU Moorhead to 17-54 (31.5%) from the field which is the third-lowest shooting percentage CSP has allowed this season. The 17 shots are the second-lowest made against the Golden Bears behind Minnesota Duluth with 15.
Terryn Johnson and Ashton Safranski each scored nine points for MSU Moorhead. Abby Berge and Carylin Kelly scored seven points. Safranski had a game-high five steals. Johnson and Berge each grabbed five rebounds for the Dragons.
The Golden Bears are back in action on the road Saturday vs. Northern State (S.D.) (8-5, 5-2 NSIC) in Aberdeen. The Wolves defeated Minnesota Duluth 73-43 on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
