There was only one way for Moorhead State to stop the University of North Dakota on Tuesday night. Don't let the Sioux inside Alex Nemzek Hall.
Once inside, UND took the Dragons to school in a 103-67 women's basketball victory. The No. 1-ranked Sioux are becoming masters of the streak.
They ran their winning streak to 35 games, with seven to start this season. On the court, senior Kami Winger can put a string of points together in a few blinks of the eye.
She scored 17 unanswered points by herself against Minnesota-Duluth last weekend. Against the Dragons, she had three field goals in just over one minute to halt a brief Dragons rally of nine straight to start the second half that pulled MSU within 12.
That forced the Sioux to call timeout, which gave Moorhead State coach Jean Roise reason to smile after the game.
"It's always nice when you have to make them call a timeout," she said.
The Dragons saw their six-game victory streak end in the first half when the Sioux scored 54 points. The weapons were many; take your pick. Inside. Outside. Starters. Bench. The Sioux were potent with all four facets.
The rally came quick. The Sioux went on an 18-2 run midway through the half to forge a 34-18 advantage. The bench, which scored 11 of those points, served as the catalyst.
"Everybody is working together," said UND forward Katie Richards. "That's a bonus for our team."
Then guard Jaime Pudenz got hot. Her four-point play - she was fouled on a 3-point field goal - was the first of her three first-half treys. All came in the final five minutes when the Sioux tightened their hold on the Dragons' neck.
By intermission, the Sioux led 56-35. They were 6 of 10 from 3-point range, had 17 assists - six by reserve guard Tonia Jones - and only four turnovers.
It was Jones' second game back from a hamstring injury. UND also got strong bench help from senior guard Casey Carroll, who finished with 11 points. Carroll's basket with 16:51 left started a 16-0 Sioux run.
"Coach called a timeout and said to kick it into high gear," Richards said.
Richards led the scoring parade with 22 points. It was the first time the Sioux cracked the 100-point barrier since beating the University of South Dakota 109-49 on Jan. 31.
"We play a tough schedule at the beginning of the year and that makes us tougher," said Moorhead's Kristie Stangl, who led her team with 23 points. "To have the opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the nation .. we battled and that's all you can ask."
UND was the fifth North Central Conference team the Dragons have played this season. They beat Minnesota State, Mankato 67-55 and lost 77-51 to North Dakota State, 97-66 to St. Cloud State and 86-64 to Augustana. UND, however, was a step above the rest.
"They're the best team in the NCC," Roise said. "St. Cloud can match their quickness, NDSU their physicalness. But when they're playing on all cylinders, they're the best team in the nation."
UND (7-0): Richards 8-14 3-4 22, Arndtson 2-9 6-6 11, Crouse 6-7 1-4 13, Pudenz 5-8 1-2 15, Hoffner 1-2 0-0 2, Jones 3-8 0-0 6, Winger 6-15 2-4 14, Super 2-4 0-0 5, Carroll 5-7 1-1 11, Debbout 0-1 0-0 0, Leno 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 39-77 16-23 103.
MSU (6-4): Engeldorf 5-14 0-0 11, Asher 2-11 3-4 7, Stangl 8-17 7-8 23, Uecker 1-7 0-0 3, Bruck 2-4 0-0 5, Wilson 3-3 3-5 9, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Goll 0-1 0-0 0, Hutton 1-3 0-0 3, Kappelhoff 3-12 0-2 6. Totals 25-74 13-19 67.
Halftime: UND 56, MSU 35. 3-point goals: UND 9-17 (Richards 3-5, Arndtson 1-4, Pudenz 4-5, Super 1-3), MSU 4-7 (Engeldorf 1-1, Uecker 1-2, Davis 0-1, Bruck 1-1, Hutton 1-2). Fouled out: None. Rebounds: UND 51 (Winger 9), MSU 47 (Stangl 11). Assists: UND 32 (Jones 8), MSU 18 (Uecker 6). Turnovers: UND 8 (Richards, Leno 2), MSU 13 (Uecker 4).Total fouls: UND 18, MSU 17. A-475.