Box Score Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State University women’s basketball team opened its conference schedule with an 85-66 win over Concordia-St. Paul to move their record to 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

“We did a good job coming out and setting the tone here to start the conference schedule,” said head coach Emilee Thiesse. “We need to continue to build on our defense, we can’t give up that many fouls or open looks to allow a team to shoot 43% from the field.
Overall I’m really excited about our aggressiveness and intensity, and how we opened the conference schedule.”

The Mavericks and Golden Bears exchanged points early as there were seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the contest before Minnesota State was able to end the final nine minutes of the first half on a 27-11 run, taking a 47-31 lead into intermission.

Minnesota State continued its hot-shooting as they converted on 57% (20-35) from the field and 36% (4-11) from behind the three-point arc. The Mavericks were paced by junior forward Ali Wilkinson who scored 18 points in the first half, making 70% (7-10) of her shots from the floor.

The Mavericks began the second half on an 8-0 run extending their lead to 55-31 before the Golden Bears were able to score their first points of the half by way of a free throw from Anika Whiting, three minutes into the stanza.

Wilkinson led the charge for the Mavericks as she scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds, junior Karlee Gengenbacher added 14 points, two assists and a steal, sophomore Jamie Bresnahan added 12 points and senior Jamelia Hudnell contributed 10 points.

Minnesota State will return to action Friday, Dec. 7 as they host NSIC-foe Winona State, tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

For Coach Thiesse's post game interview with Casey Lloyd, click HERE.