Box Score Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State Mavericks drop second-half battle to the Huskies of St. Cloud State Saturday evening, 63-62, in the Taylor Center.
The loss marks the first time since the 2008-09 season, Jan. 24, 2009 when MSU was defeated by Augustana, 95-89.
The Mavericks opened the game winning the tip-off and scoring the first points off a jumper by senior forward Liz Trauger. MSU gave the lead to the Huskies following the opening shot. St. Cloud State went on an eight-point scoring spree before the Mavericks tallied their next points, two shots at the line by sophomore guard Jennie Noreen. Minnesota State allowed the Huskies to increase their lead entering the half with a 20-point deficit, 37-17.
MSU shot 20 percent from the field against the Huskies 43.3 percent, and were outrebounded 20-24. Leading the Mavericks in the first half was senior guard Tiffany Moe with six points and Noreen with four. The Mavericks allowed the Huskies to earn 16 points off of Maverick turnovers.
After four minutes of the second half, Trauger put down the first points off a jumper, opening an 8-0 run to start the half. Cutting the Husky lead Trauger put down three-straight shots from the arc followed by two more from sophomore guard Lauren Barber to give the Mavericks a five-point lead with 7:41 left in the game. The Huskies quickly came back but the Mavericks ran away with a seven point lead with 2:30 left. St. Cloud put down three shots at the line along with a shot from the field and the arc to put the game within one point. To finish the game the Huskies put down a jumper to give them a one –point lead.
Minnesota State shot 36.8 percent from the field, and 86.7 from the arc. The Huskies outrebounded the Mavericks, 41-37.
Leading the Mavericks and earning her first double-double of the season Trauger put down 21 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, while Noreen tallied 10 points.
The Mavericks now 10-6 overall and 5-4 in the NSIC travel to Wayne, Neb. to take on Wayne State, Friday at 6 p.m.
