January 12, 2002
Sioux City, Iowa – The University of North Dakota's 103-77 victory over Morningside in North Central Conference action on Saturday was marked by two noteworthy stories. First, junior Becky Moen hit 15-of-27 shots and finished with a career-high 44 points to help the Sioux beat South Dakota, 89-77, to improve to 12-3 overall, 4-3 in the NCC. Second, and perhaps more important to the Sioux's season, the team played with an improved level of energy and intensity, head coach Gene Roebuck said after the game.
Individually, the story of the game was the 5-11 forward from Morris, Minn., who was remarkably consistent throughout the game. Moen hit 8-of-13 field goals in the first half, 4-of-6 from 3-point range, to score 22 points. In the second half she hit 7-of-14 shots, 4-of-9 from 3-point range, to also score 22 points. The 44 points was one short of Whitney Meier's team record of 45, which she scored in an 88-87 victory over Barry on Dec. 9, 1990. The 44 matched Jaime Pudenz's total versus South Dakota State in a 96-70 Sioux victory on Feb. 15, 1997, which is the most points scored by a UND player in a North Central Conference game.
Moen's big night overshadowed junior Jenny Boll, who put on an impressive performance of her own. The 6-1 forward matched her career high with 25 points, a total which she's now reached three times. She also grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds and completely controlled the middle throughout the game, on both ends of the court.
The play of the two co-captains was perhaps reflected best by a play late in the game when Moen was easily within reach of the scoring record. After a Morningside turnover, Moen led a 2-on-1 break down the right side while Boll filled the left side. Near the top of the key, Moen gave the ball up to Boll and immediately got a return pass. With an open lane to the basket and at least a trip to the free throw line guaranteed, Moen drew the Mustang defender back to her, then selflessly slipped a wraparound pass back to Boll for the uncontested layup. Points for Moen on the play: zero. Respect for Moen on the play: absolute.
The game took on a decidedly different feel for UND from the opening tip as Sioux coach Gene Roebuck went with a different starting lineup for the first time in over a month. But North Dakota's first two-game losing streak in over 160 games and nearly five seasons necessitated a shakeup. Junior Megan Pick got the start at the point, sophomore Mary Perrizo moved over to the shooting guard, while Moen started at the three, freshman Chelsea Hausauer at the four and Boll in the post.
The change paid almost immediate dividends as Pick got the Sioux's running game going. After dropping behind 3-0, UND scored the next six points on a Boll layup, two Boll free throws and a Moen basket. North Dakota wouldn't trail again in the game.
The Sioux grabbed a double-figure lead, 18-7, on a Boll layup at the 13:14 mark of the first half. Another Boll layup at the 4:31 mark of the first half gave the Sioux their largest opening-half lead, 29 points, 42-13.
UND would lead 49-28 at the half.
Moen had 22 points in the first half, Boll 11, as the Sioux shot 53.1 percent while holding Morningside to 25.0 percent shooting. The Sioux hit 6-of-12 3-point shots.
The second-half lead grew as large as 29 points, 68-39, on a sophomore Tara Zoanni layup at the 14:13 mark.
In addition to Moen and Boll's 69 points, Perrizo had nine points, four assists and two steals. Sophomore Marisa Leighton had seven points and six other Sioux scored. Moen added six rebounds and four assists.
North Dakota shot 54.5 percent for the game to Morningside's 37.3 percent and outrebounded the Mustangs 43-31. The Sioux hit 12-of-25 3-point shots.
North Dakota will be back in action next weekend when the Sioux host St. Cloud State and MSU-Mankato on Friday and Saturday night. Game times for both nights is 6 p.m.
Official Basketball Box Score
North Dakota vs Morningside College
1/12/02 6 p.m. at Sioux City, Iowa - Allee Gym
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VISITORS: North Dakota 12-3, 4-3 NCC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
01 Mary Perrizo........ * 2-6 1-5 4-4 0 1 1 4 9 4 3 1 2 27
15 Chelsea Hausauer.... * 1-4 0-1 0-0 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 0 0 16
22 Becky Moen.......... * 15-27 8-15 6-8 1 5 6 3 44 4 5 1 1 40
23 Megan Pick.......... * 1-1 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 3 2 3 0 3 28
44 Jenny Boll.......... * 11-20 0-0 3-4 4 11 15 5 25 2 0 0 1 32
21 Marisa Leighton..... 2-3 0-0 3-3 2 3 5 4 7 2 4 0 1 18
25 Trish Fleming....... 1-1 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 10
30 Tara Zoanni......... 2-2 1-1 0-0 0 2 2 3 5 1 1 0 1 13
33 Gina Britz.......... 0-1 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
41 Kristi Kilander..... 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 4
55 Janel Palbicki...... 1-1 0-0 2-2 0 4 4 2 4 0 3 0 1 9
TEAM................ 2 2 4 1
Totals.............. 36-66 12-25 19-23 11 32 43 28 103 16 24 2 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-32 53.1% 2nd Half: 19-34 55.9% Game: 54.5% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 6-12 50.0% 2nd Half: 6-13 46.2% Game: 48.0% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 9-10 90.0% 2nd Half: 10-13 76.9% Game: 82.6% 1
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HOME TEAM: Morningside College 6-10, 2-6 NCC
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
20 Brittany Carper..... * 2-6 0-0 2-2 0 2 2 3 6 1 6 1 1 33
22 Megan Cloud......... * 3-14 1-6 8-9 0 1 1 1 15 0 2 0 3 31
23 Erica Thein......... * 10-15 1-1 11-14 3 8 11 1 32 0 4 0 0 35
34 Lori Van Meeteren... * 2-5 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 3 4 0 1 0 0 25
5 Mindy Durant........ * 4-7 1-1 2-4 0 1 1 5 11 1 3 0 2 29
35 Kelly Yeakel........ 1-9 1-6 5-6 0 2 2 3 8 0 2 0 4 30
42 Katie Bolton........ 0-3 0-0 1-2 3 3 6 2 1 1 1 0 0 14
50 Amber Wiertzma...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Team................ 2 1 3 2
Totals.............. 22-59 4-14 29-37 9 22 31 18 77 3 21 1 10 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 6-24 25.0% 2nd Half: 16-35 45.7% Game: 37.3% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 0-3 0.0% 2nd Half: 4-11 36.4% Game: 28.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 16-21 76.2% 2nd Half: 13-16 81.3% Game: 78.4% 4
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Officials: Jeff Sylliaasen, Rhonda Rhodes, Dennis Podjenski
Technical fouls: North Dakota-None. Morningside College-None.
Attendance: 600
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
North Dakota.................. 49 54 - 103
Morningside College........... 28 49 - 77
North Central Conference game