By: Evan Smegal

TOURNEY WEBSITE

Sammy Kozlowski was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday. Tonight, it wasn't the gaudy defensive effort by the senior guard. Rather, it was her production on the offensive end. 

Kozlowski scored a collegiate-high 27 points as she lifted the University of Minnesota Duluth to its first NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Semifinal game in nine years.The Bulldogs scored at least 80 points for the second straight contest as they won 80-72 over Augustana University, eliminating the Vikings in the quarterfinal round of the tournament on Saturday night at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

Kozlowski, who's previous high was 26 against the University of Mary back in January, set a program record in the process as she attempted 19 free throws. The mark was held by both Lindsay Dietz and Dina Kangas as they each attempted 18 free throws. She was aggressive throughout the night at attacking the basket and got rewarded at the line. Near the end, Kozlowski was dribbling around double and triple teams as she ran the seconds off the bleeding clock on numerous occasions. The native of New Berlin, Wis., finished 14-for-19 at the charity stripe. 

Charity stripe was right. UMD capped off the night going 30-for-39 at the line. The 30 free throws was a season high and the most makes since Dec. 5, 2015 in a game against Bemidji State University.

A pair of runs made the Bulldogs seemed to be the difference. UMD never trailed after taking the lead halfway through the first quarter.

It started with its first run of the night.

The Bulldogs climbed out to a 15-7 lead with three-straight triples by Kozlowski, junior forward Katie Stark and senior guard Emma Boehm. UMD first took advantage with its aggressiveness on getting the ball up in transition and finding the open player. The Bulldogs scored 10 fast-break points -- 16 in all -- as it pushed its lead to 12 points with four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Augustana ran out to an 8-2 run to cut away some of deficit but UMD still went into the break up 33-27.

The Vikings worked hard before the half to stay within striking distance but UMD had a counter-punch of its own. The Bulldogs opened up the second half on a 9-0 run which forced Augustana to take a timeout to regroup. The Vikings had the lead trimmed down to four again but UMD had an answer to almost every basket Augustana made. The Bulldogs, who have yet to lose this season when leading at the half or at the start of the fourth quarter, never let the lead fall below five in the fourth quarter.

Kozlowski stepped up in the fourth as she had 16 of her team's 26 points as she almost single-handedly knifed her way through the Viking defense and at the line.

Stark compiled her first career double-double as she finished with 15 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Stark also had three steals and two blocks. Sophomore forward Sarah Grow tabbed 10 points, five rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Boehm, Kozlowski and sophomore guard Ann Simonet each dished out three assists.

Augustana's Shelby Selland had a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Lynsey Prosser also tallied 17 points for the Vikings, who forced 18 turnovers. Augustana was one of three teams this season to win the turnover battle against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs will take on St. Cloud State University, who beat Bemidji State 85-57 in its quarterfinal match, on Monday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m. for the chance to advance to the NSIC Championship game on Tuesday.