Minnesota West Basketball Teams Face Mixed Results in North Dakota
BISMARCK, ND — Over the weekend, the Minnesota West basketball teams had contrasting outcomes during their matchup against North Dakota schools. The women’s team faced a tough challenge, going 0-for-2, while the men’s team celebrated a pair of victories, improving their season record to 6-1.
In their first game, the Lady Jays fell to Bismarck State College with a score of 87-60. Minnesota West struggled without key players Sadie Krahling and Bethany Petrowiak, who were participating in volleyball nationals. Despite a valiant effort, including 21 points from Katrina Schutz and 20 from Rhea Tucker, the Lady Jays committed 28 turnovers and shot only 32.3% from the field. The loss marked their first of the season, breaking a 16-game winning streak dating back to last year.
The second game against United Tribes Technical College proved to be a closer contest, but the Lady Jays were defeated 68-63. They held a five-point halftime lead, led by Tucker’s 20 points, but succumbed to a strong second-half performance from the Thunderbirds, who ultimately secured the win.
Conversely, the men’s team had a successful weekend, winning both of their games. In a nail-biting first match, the Bluejays edged Bismarck State 69-67, with Jiekgoy Wiel leading the team with 16 points. They followed up with a 75-73 victory against United Tribes, marked by strong performances from Zachery Rygg and Dylan Marshall, who contributed 16 and 14 points respectively.
The Bluejays’ success has sparked optimism, as they achieve their best start in five years, matching their total win count from last season in just seven games. Meanwhile, the Lady Jays will look to regroup and bounce back from their weekend struggles.
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Photo credit www.dglobe.com
