Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth got a strong effort from Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division Player of the Year Katrina Newman (Sr./F), but the Bulldogs (3-2, 0-1 NSIC) fell in their conference opener 81-73 at the hands of preseason North division favorite St. Cloud State University.

St. Cloud State (5-0, 1-0 NSIC) took a 19-12 lead, the largest of the first half, nine minutes into the frame but UMD battled back into it to take the lead 23-22. The Bulldogs were without a point from the floor in the final four minutes of the half until Taylor Meyer drilled a jumper with 29 seconds to pull UMD within 29-32 at the break.

SCSU extended its lead to 11 seven minutes into the second, but the Bulldogs battled back into it, trailing by just three in the final minute, but late free throws let the Huskies pull away. Newman led all scorers with 18 points on the night, but it was a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) by SCSU's J. Benson that put the game away.

UMD got 15 points from sophomore forward Taylor Meyer, and the NSIC's Player of the Week , senior center Hannah Rutten just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards for the Bulldogs. UMD shot 38.9 percent from the field while St. Cloud netted almost half of its shots (48.1 percent), including 41.2 from beyond the arch.

The Bulldogs continue on the road next week and will continue NSIC play against in-state foes as they take on Minnesota Crookston on Friday night before facing off with Bemidji State in the Highway 2 battle on Saturday afternoon. Friday's match-up with the Golden Eagles is set to tip off at 6:00 p.m.