Box Score Aberdeen, S.D. --- #17 Minnesota State women's basketball fell to 9-4 overall and 6-3 overall, as it fell to Northern State 79-63, with the win the Wolves improved to 11-2 overall and 7-2 in NSIC action.

In a tightly contested first half, the Mavericks found themselves down 27-19 before ending the half on a 6-2 run, trailing the Wolves 29-25 heading into halftime.

Neither team was able to find its offensive groove in the first half, as MSU connected on 30% (10-33) of its shots from the field, and 33% (5-15) from behind the arc. Northern State -netted 10-of-27 (37%) of its shots from the field and 2-of-7 (28%) from deep.
Senior Karlee Gengenbacher (Quincy, Ill.) paced the Mavericks in the first 20 minutes, netting eight points on a 3-of-4 (75%) showing from the field, going 2-of-2 from behind the arc.

It was the Wolves that were able to find their offensive groove, as they outscored the Mavericks 23-5 in the first nine minutes of the second frame, opening 52-30 lead with 10:41 to play.

MSU cut the NSU lead to 11 with 38 second to play, but the 22 point lead proved insurmountable as the Mavericks fell 79-63 to the Wolves.

Freshman Britney Scherber (Bloomington, Minn.) attempted to lead MSU on a second-half comeback, as she finished the game with 10 points. Senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.) netted a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds, earning her 30th career double-double. Gengenbacher rounded out the scoring for the Mavericks, finishing with 10 points.

Alison Kusler led the Wolves with 28 points.

Collectively, the Mavericks connected on 37% (25-67) of their shots from the field, 28% (9-32) from behind the arc and a bleak 40% (4-10) from the charity stripe. Northern State connected on 40% (21-52) from the field, 30% (3-10) from behind the arc but were able to connect on 34-of-43 (79%) of its free throws.

Minnesota State returns to action Saturday as it travels to Moorhead, Minn., to do battle with MSU-Moorhead, opening tip is slated for 4 p.m.