Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- A 48-point first half propels No. 22 Minnesota State past Augustana, as it earned the 82-64 win Friday evening in Taylor Center.
 
With the win, MSU improves to 11-4 overall with a mark of 8-3 on the circuit, while Augie falls to 10-5 overall with a mark of 6-5 in NSIC Action.
 
The Mavericks raced out to an early 9-0 lead before the Vikings were able to find their way onto the scoreboard 3:35 into the contest, not allowing Augustana to connect on a three point shot for the first 14 minutes of the contest. The quick start gave MSU a 48-24 lead going into intermission.
 
MSU connected on 19-of-43 (44%) of its shots from the field, including a 5-of-13 (39%) from deep in the first half, but only connected on 56% (5-9) from the charity stripe. The Maverick defense was stifling as it held the Vikings to a 28% (9-32) showing from the field, 19% (3-16) showing in the first half, and forced 10 Augustana turnovers.
 
Junior Aubrey Davis (Bloomington, Minn.) paced the Mavericks in the first half, netting 11 points while senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.) recorded six first half rebounds. A total of eight Mavericks found their way into the scoring column in the first 20 minutes of the game.
 
The Vikings scored the first four points of the second half before the Mavericks went on a 16-8 run, extending their lead to 64-32 with 12:46 remaining in the contest. Augie answered with a 19-8 run bringing the score to 72-51 in favor of the Mavericks with 5:30 to play. The Vikings would pull within 14 points, railing 78-64 with 1:57 but that lead proved insurmountable as the Mavericks earned the 82-64 win.
 
The Mavericks cooled off in the second half as they only connected on 10-of-30 (33%) from the field, 1-of-6 (17%) from behind the arc, bringing their total to 40% (29-73) from the field and 32% (6-19) from behind the arc. The Vikings were able to connect on 32% (13-41) of their shots from the field and 27% (4-15) from behind the arc in the second half, bringing their total to 30% (22-73) from the field and 23% (7-31) from deep.
 
The Mavericks were able to own the glass, recording 56 rebounds to the Vikings 44. MSU forced 19 Augie turnovers, but committed 19 of its own.
 
MSU had four athletes reach double-digits including a trio of Mavericks in Davis, Wilkinson and junior Lexie Ulfers (Waseca, Minn.) that all netted 15 points. Junior Jamie Bresnahan (Edina, Minn.) added 10 points. Wilkinson's 15 points and 13 rebounds marks her 32nd career double-double.
 
The Mavericks return to action Saturday as they host No. 11 Wayne State, opening-tip is slated for 4 p.m.