Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- The No. 13 Minnesota State women's basketball team improved to 5-1 overall with a mark of 2-0 on the circuit with a 101-66 win over Upper Iowa. With the win the Mavericks improved their home winning streak to a program-best 19 games.
 
The Mavericks jumped out to an early 9-2 lead behind seven points from senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.), but the Peacocks would battle back within three points, bringing the score to 18-15 in favor of the Mavericks with 11:55 to play in the first half.
 
Freshman Tyra Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn.) sparked a 9-0 run with Wilkinson on the bench with two fouls. Johnson connected four of her five shots during the run, opening up a 27-15 lead with 9:15 remaining in the opening frame.
 
Minnesota State would take a 50-33 lead into intermission, and had three athletes reach double-figures in the opening half, led by Johnson who posted a career-high 12 points. Wilkinson finished the half with 11 points and junior Aubrey Davis (Bloomington, Minn.) netted 10 points.
 
As a unit, the Mavericks connected on 17-of-29 (59%) of the shots from the field, 3-of-9 (33%) from behind the arc, and 13-of-17 (77%) of their shots from the charity stripe in the first half. Upper Iowa hit 9-of-23 (39%) of its shots from the field, 2-of-5 (40%) from behind the arc and 13-of-16 from the charity stripe.  
 
MSU would extinguish any Upper Iowa hopes of a comeback, as it outscored the Peacocks 24-6 in the first nine minutes of the second half, opening 74-39 lead with 11:09 remaining in the contest.
 
The Mavericks would connect on 61% of their shots from the field in the second half, but only connect on one of their shots from behind the arc.
 
Wilkinson finished with a game-high 22 points and also hauled in six rebounds, and was one of four Mavericks to reach double-figures. Johnson posted a career-best 18 points, Davis finished the contest with 14 points and seven assists, while freshman Britney Scherber (Bloomington, Minn.) netted 11 points off of the bench.
 
As a unit MSU connected on 26-of-60 (60%) of its shots from the field 4-of-14 (29%) from behind the arc and 24-of-25 (74%) from the charity stripe. The Mavericks posted 26 assists on 36 made baskets and forced the Peacocks to commit 27 turnovers.
 
Minnesota State will return to action tomorrow as they host Winona State at Taylor Center, opening-tip is slated for 4:00 p.m.