Box Score Bemidji, Minn. --- The 11th-ranked Minnesota State Mavericks fall  in a tough battle to the Beavers of Bemidji State, in Bemidji Minn., Saturday afternoon, 80-72.

The Mavericks opened the game with a jumper by senior guard Tiffany Moe, for the first points of the game. Starting the game off slow, three minutes later the Beavers scored their first points. Sophomore guard Jennie Noreen downed a three to give the Mavericks the lead they would hold for the majority of the half.

A lay-up by senior forward Liz Trauger gave MSU a 14-point lead with seven minutes left in the half. The Beavers battling back, going on a scoring spree as the Beavers cut down the Maverick lead and ended the half with a two-point lead on the Mavericks, 37-35 at half.

Minnesota State was led in the first half by Noreen with 10 points, Trauger with nine and sophomore guard Lauren Barber and Moe with eight points each.

The Mavericks started the second half down by two, came out cutting the deficit and taking the lead with two free throw shots by freshman guard Sarah Wiens and a jumper by sophomore forward Laura Weber. MSU moved on to take a seven-point lead at the 15 minute mark.

The Beavers fought back dropping the Mavericks lead and taking over with 12 minutes left in the game, 50-49. The Beavers shot 40 percent from the field and 79 percent at the line, as the Mavericks ended shooting 38 percent from the field and 69 percent at the line. MSU was outrebounded by the Beavers 51-39.

Maverick leaders were; Moe with 19 points and six rebounds, Noreeen with 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds, and Trauger and Barber with 14 points and six rebounds each.

The Mavericks now 8-2 overall and  3-0 in the NSIC return to action after the holiday break as they travel to Crookston, Minn., Jan. 2 at 4 p.m.