Box Score
Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State Mavericks were defeated by the Vikings of Augustana, Wednesday evening, 65-54 in the Taylor Center.
The Mavericks opened the game as sophomore center Laura Weber won the tip-off but both teams would put on a strong defense. The Vikings scored the first point off a free-throw and would take 7-0 lead on the Mavericks at 15:34. Freshman forward Ali Wilkinson tallied the first points for MSU off a layup. The Mavericks defense slipped as the Vikings took a 13-point lead at 11:16. MSU went on a 16-6 run, seven of those points coming from senior forward Liz Trauger, closing the Viking lead to three points with four minutes left in the half. The Mavericks closed-out the half with a nine-point deficit on the Vikings, 33-24.
Trauger led the Mavericks in the first half with seven points followed by senior guard Tiffany Moe with six points. Attacking the boards was Wilkinson with seven rebounds as the Mavericks were outrebounded 23-21. MSU shot 30 percent from the field, shooting 5-8 at the line.
The second half opened up with Augustana putting down the first points off a jumper but Moe would fight back with four shots for the Mavericks. MSU went 10-6, cutting the Vikings lead to five points at the 15:30 mark. The Vikings largest lead came at 10:27 with 11 points over the Mavericks. Sophomore guard Lauren Barber and Noreen would rally the Mavericks back within four points of the Vikings with 2:45 left in the game. The comeback would prove short as the Mavericks finish with an 11-point deficit on the Vikings.
Leading the Mavericks with 14 points was Moe, followed by Noreen with 13 and Trauger with 11 points. Minnesota State shot 35.1 percent from the field 11.1 from the arc and 75 percent at the line, against the Vikings 42.4 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from the arc. The battle of the boards ended in a tie, 38-38, Wilkinson grabbed eight while Trauger and Weber both grabbed seven. MSU dished out eight assists taking seven steals from the Vikings and blocking five shots.
Minnesota State now 14-12 overall and 9-10 in the NSIC will travel to Bismarck, N.D. to take on the University of Mary Saturday at 2 p.m., closing out the regular season.
