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STRUGGLES CONTINUE AS WAYNE STATE TOPS UMD 62-47

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Head coach Annette Wiles (left) and the Bulldogs will have to go back to the drawing board after another tough weekend.

Mired in its only prolonged streak since Annette Wiles took the head coaching reigns in 2008, the University of Minnesota Duluth could not get back in the winner's circle Friday night in Wayne, Neb. The Bulldogs looked to be getting the end better of a defensive grudge match at the break before Wayne State put up 47 second-half points on its way to a 62-47 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory at Rice Auditorium. 

UMD (10-10 overall and 7-9 in the NSIC) held the Wildcats to just 15 points through the first 20 minutes of play, holding the hosts without a 3-point field goal and just one point at the free throw line. The Bulldogs endured shooting struggles of their own, going 9-for-34 from the floor (27 percent) and just 1-for-7 from long range. Through it all UMD took a 20-15 lead into the locker room thanks to a strong all-around defensive effort. 

A three-point play by junior forward Katrina Newman, followed by an Alyssa Kerkhoff layup to open the second half gave the Bulldogs a double digit lead on the scoreboard at 25-15. Everything changed from there, as Wayne State (13-7; 9-7) went on a 22-2 run, suddenly holding a 10-point lead of their own with 10:43 remaining in regulation. Seemingly dejected from the rapid turn of events and evaporation of a double digit lead, UMD could only get the deficit below 10 on two occasions until hearing the final buzzer -- signaling the Bulldogs' sixth defeat in as many outings. 

Katrina Newman paced UMD with 12 points, adding a team-leading nine rebounds as she narrowly missed recording her second straight double-double. Freshman center Abbie Whitney racked up 11 points on 5-for-10 shooting off the bench, while Kerkhoff came away with nine points and five rebounds on the evening. 

Next weekend presents a legitimate opportunity for the Bulldogs to get back on track. UMD will return to Romano Gymnasium -- where it has gone 7-2 on the season -- and play host to Upper Iowa University and Winona State University.

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