The Minnesota West Lady Jays saw their eight-game winning streak snapped Thursday night in decisive fashion as Northland handed Minnesota West an 81-53 setback on the Lady Jays’ home court.
Northland came into the game as one of the teams just outside the top 15 in the NJCAA Division 3 Women’s Basketball poll, while Minnesota West was the No. 2 ranked team in the nation. But the Lady Jays played nowhere that level Thursday, shooting just 28% from the field for the game while getting outrebounded 54-42.
With the game tied 24-24 in the second quarter, the Pioneers went on 10-0 surge to build a lead they’d never relinquish the rest of the way. Northland led by 17 points at the half and by 29 at the conclusion of the third period. Minnesota West got as close as 19 in the fourth quarter, but Northland grew the advantage again from there.
Olivia Hayenga had 19 points to lead the Jays but shot just 6-of-23 from the floor. She also contributed a team-best nine rebounds as well as four assists and five steals. Hattie DeVries added 13 points for Minnesota West; Dasia Potter chipped in with nine.
The Lady Jays are now 10-3 and will host Dakota College Bottineau at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Minnesota West men, meanwhile, were idle Thursday night and will not see game action again until Dec. 29. The school’s wrestling team will be in action at 7 .m. tonight against Iowa Lakes Community College in its lone home dual match of the year, It will also be Youth Wrestling Appreciation Night, so all youth wrestlers wearing their club's T-shirt will be granted free admission.
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In area high school girls basketball Thursday, it was:
Hills-Beaver Creek 63, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 12
Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 57, Murray County Central 42
Southwest Minnesota Christian 77, Pipestone Area 41
Westbrook-Walnut Grove 61, Mountain Lake Area-Comfrey 36
Edgerton 61, Adrian-Ellsworth 54
Jackson County Central 63, Windom 53
In area high school boys basketball:
Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial 76, Martin County West 40
Pipestone Area 64, Southwest Minnesota Christian 59
Tracy-Milroy-Balaton 69, Red Rock Central 46
In girls hockey:
Marshall 6, Fairmont 0
In boys hockey:
Windom Area 10, Redwood Valley 1
Marshall 7, Fairmont 0
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