Box Score

Mankato, Minn.— Minnesota State got back on the right track after beating Bemidji State 77-73 to open up a four-game home stand. The win puts the Mavericks back to .500 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The game started out with the offensive cannons going, as the Beavers jumped out to an early 6-5 lead 1:24 into the game.

Just over five minutes into the half, MSU freshman guard Hillary Paulson came off the bench and sank two three’s to give the Mavericks their first lead of 15-13.

Bemidji State went on a 14-0 run to go ahead 31-18 with 9:26 remaining. Shannon Thompson made two three-pointers as the Beavers shot 80 percent from the floor to this point and finished the half shooting 66.7 percent.

Sarah Wiens picked up where she left off of at Mary as she ignited an 8-0 run for Minnesota State at 7:10 hitting a three-pointer, shrinking the BSU lead to 33-23. Wiens would finish the half with six points, shooting 2-of-2 from three point land.

Minnesota State junior guard Jennie Noreen had an excellent first half dropping 14 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the floor. Noreen finished the day with 16 points and six rebounds. Beaver center Colleen McKay lead the Beavers in offense in the half shooting 6-of-9 from the floor and scoring 12.

In its third time scoring over 40 points in the first half this season, MSU shot 15-of-33 from the field for 45 percent and 7-of-15 from three point range for 46.7 percent.

Laura Weber knotted the game up at 44 to open the second half, with Ali Wilkinson laying a shoot off the glass the next possession as Minnesota State jumped out to a 49-46 lead at 17:20.

BSU guard Shannon Thompson put the Beavers back up 52-51 as she hit jumper at 13:40 remaining. The lead wouldn’t last long as MSU would march down the court and Alli Hoefer would drain a two pointer to put the Mavericks back up 53-52.

Jessie Althoff would break a 63-63 tie sinking two free throws at 7:37 to put Bemidji State up 65-63.

With each team trading baskets, MSU’s Kirstin Nelson would help secure the Minnesota State win hitting two three-pointers to put the Mavericks back on top 69-68 with 4:40 remaining. Nelson would end the day shooting 4-of-5 from downtown for a career-high 12 points.

Minnesota State would hold off the Beavers to secure a 77-73 victory, as MSU would finish the day shooting 42 percent from the floor compared to BSU who shot 52 percent. The Mavericks were outrebounded 38-29 by the Beavers.

Wilkinson would find her second home at the free throw line going 10-13, totaling18 points on the day. Wilkinson would add ten rebounds notching her second-straight double-double and ninth of the season. The Blue Mounds, Wis., native would also add seven of the 14 steals in the game for the Mavericks.

Minnesota State (9-7, 6-6 NSIC) will continue action tomorrow against Minnesota Duluth (9-7, 7-5 NSIC) at 4 p.m., at the Taylor Center.

 

-30-

 

Kirstin Nelson on the 77-73 win over BSU: