Bismarck, N.D.— In a tale that started off slow, the finish would go in the books as a 57-63 loss for Minnesota State. MSU sophomore forward Ali Wilkinson eighth double-double of the season wouldn’t be enough to help the Mavericks past the University of Mary.

The first basket of the game wasn’t dropped until 4:55 into the game as Laura Weber made a layup for the Mavericks. The Marauders were kept off the board until 12:54 remaining before they were able to take their zero off the board.

As the pep band kept roaring, so did the Mavericks as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. MSU guards Jennie Noreen and Sarah Wiens each knocked down a three in that span. Wiens would score a season high 12 points, shooting a perfect 4-4 at the line.

MSU went on an 8-0 run to give it an 18-5 lead with 8:24 remaining, as six different Mavericks scored in the half.  Wilkinson would be a large part of that run as she would finish with a career high of 16 rebounds and tally 20 points.

The Marauders made a late first half surge cutting the Minnesota State lead to 24-20 at the half. MSU won the battle of the boards in the half, 19-16.

The first half was filled with turnovers, as each squad had 12 turnovers.  

Just over two minutes into the second half, Mary opened its three point artillery knocking down two three’s in 23 seconds of one another to give the Marauders their first lead of the game leading 30-26 with 17:40 remaining.

Battling from behind much of the second half, Minnesota State began spreading the ball around as Andrea Walsh and Stephanie Haight would knock down three pointers to even the game 40-40 with 8:50 left.

In the next five minutes of the game the teams would trade baskets knotting the game at 50-50 until U-Mary freshman Mckenzie Foster hit a shot from beyond the arc to put U-Mary up 53-50 with 3:48 remaining.

Wiens knocked down a three-point shot with 1:30 remaining to pull MSU closer to the Marauders shrinking the score to 57-55, but U-Mary held off the Mavericks 63-57 when the final buzzer rang. Minnesota State and Mary would both end the day shooting 36 percent. The Marauders outrebounded the Mavericks 37-36.

Minnesota State (8-7, 5-6 NSIC) was 0-2 on the weekend as it looks ahead to Friday Jan. 21, where it will play at the Taylor Center against Bemidji State Friday at 6 p.m.