Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State University women’s basketball team took a break from Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play as they hosted Dakota State, the Mavericks defeated the Trojans 85-42 to improve to 8-1 on the season.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 14-2 lead four minutes into the contest before the Trojans were able to find some offensive rhythm. MSU converted 18-of-39 (46.2%) shots from the field, but only made 3-of-11 (27.3%) shots from behind the arc.

Minnesota State had two scorers reach double-digit points led by junior Ali Wilkinson who netted 14 points and junior Karlee Gengenbacher who added 11 points in the first stanza.

Wilkinson recorded her sixth 20-point game of the season and finished the contest with a game-high 27, she was joined by Gengenbacher who finished the contest with 16 points, junior Alli Hoefer contributed 10 points.

MSU opened up a 30-point lead 1:20 into the second half and didn’t look back from there. The Mavericks connected on 33-of-77 (42.9%) shots from the field including 6-of-23 (26.1%) from three-point range.

The Mavericks will return to action January 4 as they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D. to do battle with No. 5 Augustana, tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.

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