Winona, Minn.— Minnesota State was knocked off by Winona State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup Saturday evening, 69-61. The Warriors used a 22-4 run to break a tie to give the Warriors a 46-31 cushion going into halftime.

WSU was first to strike, with MSU responding as junior Laura Weber  worked the inside post to knot the game up 2-2. Moments later, Beth Albertson for the Warriors drilled two three’s on two possessions in a row to put WSU up 11-4 at 17:17.

Minnesota State jumped right back into the game by keeping Winona State’s shooting outside with Weber and Alli Hoefer connecting for MSU to cut the deficit to three points.

Minnesota State’s Sarah Wiens connected with the shot clock running down at 12:21, followed by a Weber lay-up to force the score to 16-15.

MSU took its first lead as Freshman Hoefer connected on two free-throws giving the Mavericks a 17-16 edge. With just under seven minutes remaining in the half, Stephanie Haight made her second shot from downtown to put MSU up 27-24.

The Warriors then used their 22-4 run to push its halftime advantage. 

At the end of the first half, Winona State attempted six three- pointers, connecting on four of them, as the Mavericks went 3-11 beyond the arc. MSU shot 37.5 percent (12-32) and WSU shot 63 percent (17-27).

Weber led MSU in the first half as she connected with eight points and five rebounds. Warrior Junior Michelle McDonald had an impressive first half as she put up 18 points.

Both teams had a tough time scoring to start the second half as each team scored only two points a piece in the first four minutes.

Leber tried to lead charge back into the game by draining a couple baskets inside the paint cutting the WSU lead to 57-41 as Minnesota State slipped into a zone.

The Mavericks applied a press on the Warriors late but couldn’t fend of the Warrior offense the Mavericks found themselves down 11 with 5:48 remaining in the half.

Andrea Walsh hit a three-pointer to put MSU down 54-62 with 4:04 remaining. Shortly after, Wilkinson made a pair of free throws to cut the Warrior lead to 62-56.

MSU used a 12-0 run in the second half to try and claw back as WSU was scoreless for six minutes, which wasn’t enough to fend the Warriors off.

The Mavericks shot 36.2 percent (21-58) in the game with the difference maker being the 48 percent (24-50) shooting by Winona State.

Minnesota State (5-5, 2-4 NSIC) will take a short holiday break before the return to the court on New Years Day. The Mavericks will take against MSU Moorhead at the Taylor Center on Jan. 1^st at 4 p.m.

-30-