Box Score DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota State advanced to the semifinals round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament Thursday afternoon after defeating the fourth-seeded Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, 68-59.
 
Freshman guard Aubrey Davis found her stroke early in the contest scoring the first eight points for MSU and 10 of its first 11.  Davis connected on two three pointers while fellow freshman Jamie Bresnahan added a three pointer of her own helping the Mavericks jump out to a 14-8 lead after the first seven minutes.
 
Minnesota Duluth would regain the lead at 21-20 with five minutes remaining in the half as it went on a 13-6 run highlighted by an and-one layup by Courtney Doucette.
 
However, it was MSU who went into halftime with a three-point lead at 30-27 as MSU connected on four first-half three pointers while the Bulldogs went 0-for-6 from behind the arc.
 
UMD used a quick 5-0 run out of the break to take its first lead of the half at 32-30 courtesy of its first made three pointer of the game by Doucette.
 
With the score knotted at 40, Minnesota State would respond with a 12-5 run of its own to take a 52-45 lead with seven minutes remaining.
 
MSU led 61-54 with just over a minute left before UMD started fouling to send the Mavericks to the free-throw line.  MSU proceeded to go 7-of-8 from the line over the remainder of the game to ensure the 68-59 victory.
 
Davis, Bresnahan and sophomore guard Alli Hoefer led the way offensively for MSU each scoring 14 points.  Bresnahan also led the Mavericks with nine rebounds while senior forward Laura Weber added 11 points and seven rebounds.  Fellow senior Jennie Noreen matched a career-high with seven assists while she also scored six points and pulled down four rebounds.
 
MSU finished 47.3 percent from the floor, 10-of-13 from the free-throw line, while UMD shot 35.9 percent and connected on 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.  MSU also outrebounded the Bulldogs, 68-59, while both teams finished with 13 turnovers.
 
Minnesota State (18-9) will play top-seeded Wayne State at noon Saturday in the semifinals in Rochester, Minn.  The winner of the semifinals game will move to the NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament championship game played Sunday at 2 p.m.