Box Score Duluth, Minn. --- The No. 20 Minnesota State women’s basketball team competed in its third road game in just five days, as they downed the University of Minnesota Duluth, 77-71 to improve to 12-4 on the season and 8-4 in the NSIC.
 
The Mavericks found themselves down eight points going into intermission for the second straight game, as they trailed the Bulldogs 41-33. Junior forward Ali Wilkinson netted 11 points and sophomore guard Ashley Olson added nine off the bench to lead MSU in the first half.  
 
Both teams exchanged baskets through much the first half, MSU finished the frame converting on 14-of-29 (48%) of its shots from the floor, 4-of-9 (44%) from behind the arc and a pedestrian 1-of-5 from the free throw line.
 
Each team turned the ball over 10 times, the difference in the first half came by way of second-chance points, the Bulldogs scored nine second-chance points, while the Mavericks were blanked in that category.
 
The Mavericks earned just five shots from the free throw line in the first half, but found a way to get the Bulldogs into foul trouble in the second half, as MSU shot 21 free throws in the second half and converted on 16 of them.
 
The game was knotted at 65 with 3:15 yet to play, before the Mavericks would go on a 12-5 run to close the game earning their 12th win of the 2012-13 campaign. Davis sparked the MSU second half surge as she finished with 17 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
 
The Mavericks connected on 27-of-54 (50%) from the floor, 6-of-15 (40%) from behind the arc and 17-of-26 (65%) from the charity stripe.
 
Minnesota State had four student-athletes reach double figures, led by Wilkinson who finished the contest with 18 points. Davis added 17 points, Olson netted 14 and junior Steffaney Thomas scored a career-high 10 points.
 
The Mavericks will return to the friendly confines of Bresnan Arena next weekend as they host No. 22 Wayne State and No. 12 Augustana, tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday.
 

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