Bulldogs hold off late Yellowjacket rally to pull out victory

Brynn Liljander scored 14 points for the Yellowjackets.

Box Score

UMD 73, Superior 63

With two frustrating games having already been played in the 2014-15 campaign, the UW-Superior women's basketball team entered Tuesday night's contest feeling better things were on the horizon.

While the Yellowjackets ultimately fell to the UMD Bulldogs 73-63 at Romano Gymnasium, there were indeed plenty of positives for UW-Superior to highlight heading into Saturday's road date with non-conference foe Macalester.

Playing their best game of the season, UW-Superior took a six-point lead with 7:39 remaining in the first half on an inside basket by Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders). The Bulldogs rallied from there however, outscoring the Yellowjackets 21-8 for the rest of the frame in taking a seven-point edge into halftime.

UW-Superior refused to back down in the second half, cutting a 17-point deficit to eight with 2:41 remaining in the contest. But UMD proved too much in evening their record at 1-1 while dropping the Yellowjackets to 0-3 for the season.

The Bulldogs jumped on the Yellowjackets early, scoring the first six points of the night for a 6-0 advantage with 19:01 left in the opening half on a free throw by Meyer.

UW-Superior steadily rallied, evening matters at 12-12 on a Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) three-pointer with 15:10 showing on the first half clock.

The two sides traded scores from there until an 8-0 Yellowjackets run put UW-Superior up by six at 25-19 behind four quick points from Linzmeier and additional scores from Grace Kennedy (Wausau, Wis./Newman Catholic) and Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette).

UMD fought their way back, scoring six straight points to tie things up at 25-25 before late baskets from Danielle Flood and Kenzie Kane along with Meyer's three-pointer as time expired propelled the Bulldogs into a 40-33 halftime cushion.

The Bulldogs eventually expanded the lead to 65-48 on a jumper by Allyson Harris with 6:21 remaining in regulation.

UW-Superior refused to give in, getting six straight points from Linzmeier and a jumper from Kennedy to only trail 67-59 with 1:58 left in the contest. But UMD came through at the free-throw line down the stretch, hitting six straight free throws in the final 2:13 to seal the victory.

Linzmeier paced the Yellowjackets offensively with a game-high 19 points while Liljander finished with 14.

UMD was led by Meyer, Harris and Flood with 14 points apiece.

Opening tipoff against the Scots is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday in St. Paul.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Grace Kennedy: F; 5' 10"; Junior

#1 Brynn Liljander: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#23 Allyssa Lindberg: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#33 Sally Linzmeier: G; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Grace Kennedy
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

#1 Brynn Liljander
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Allyssa Lindberg
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#33 Sally Linzmeier
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G