By: Tom Berg, MSUM Assistant AD for Media Relations

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team battled back from a 15-point first-half deficit to defeat No. 21-ranked Michigan Tech, 68-63 during action at the Radisson Hotel Roseville Classic Saturday in St. Paul, Minn.

MSUM improved to 3-0 on the season with the win, while Michigan Tech fell to 1-1. The Huskies entered the game ranked No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches preseason poll.

Senior forward Morgan Zabel was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after back-to-back strong performances.  After scoring 16 points on Friday in a win over Wisconsin-Parkside, Zabel followed with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two rebounds against Michigan Tech.

Sophomore guard Meghan Roehrich also capped off a strong week with 13 points. She was 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Senior forward Megan Strese had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while senior guard Haley Thomforde had eight points and four assists. Sophomore forward Savanna Handevidt had eight points and five rebounds as well.

MSUM shot 46.2 percent (24-of-52), including 60 percent (15-of-25) in the second half. Michigan Tech, which had beaten Concordia-St. Paul 83-81 the previous night, shot 41.8 percent (23-of-66). The Dragons had a slight 33-32 edge in rebounds.

The Dragons were down 34-29 at halftime and were down by as many as 10 in the second half. With 6:26 left, Michigan Tech led 57-49 before MSUM seized the momentum with a decisive 12-0 run. The run, which put MSUM in front 61-57, was sparked by three players: Zabel with five points, including a three-point play; Strese with four points and Roehrich with a crucial three-pointer.

Michigan Tech was within 61-60 with 2:05 left, but redshirt freshman guard Morgan Banasik buried a huge three-point with 1:53 left to push the Dragon lead to 64-60. Moments later, Thomforde converted a layup to push the lead to 66-60.

The Huskies hit a three to cut the lead back to 66-63, but Zabel iced the game with two free throws with three seconds left to secure a five-point Dragon win.

Michigan Tech stormed out to a 20-5 lead over the first 6:07 and the Dragons trailed 32-17 with 5:10 left in the first half but closing the half on a 12-2 run to climb within 34-29 at halftime.  Thomforde and Handevidt had four points during the run while sophomore Jessy Noreen drained a three.

Thomforde and Roehrich led MSUM with six points each in the first half. The Dragons shot only 33.3 percent (9-of-27) compared to 45.2 percent (14-of-31) for the Huskies.

MSUM outscored Michigan Tech 39-29 in the second half, however, to secure the win.

The Dragons are off until Nov. 25 when they play host to Valley City State in their final nonconference game. Game time is 7 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons are off to their first 3-0 start since starting the 2009-10 season 9-0.