Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 24 Minnesota State basketball team improved to 14-5 overall and 11-4 on the circuit with an 84-68 win over the University of Mary.
 
MSU held a 47-43 advantage on the glass, including 19 offensive rebounds, leading to 24 second-chance points. The Mavericks forced 28 Marauder turnovers and were able to net 26 points off of the U-Mary errors.
 
The Mavericks found themselves in a 4-0 hole after the first minute of play before they found their groove from behind the arc. MSU responded with an 16-4 run, including five straight points by senior Karlee Gengenbacher (Quincy, Ill.) opening up a 16-8 lead with 16:18 to play in the first half.  
 
MSU continued to connect on its shots from behind the arc, knocking down five first half three point attempts on 12 shots (42%). The Marauders were unable to connect on any of their shots from behind the arc, going 0-6 in the first 20 minutes of play. The Mavericks held an 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass, for 12 second-chance points.
 
Gengenbacher paced the Mavericks with 13 first-half points, including a 6-of-7 showing from the field, in addition to a team-high four rebounds in the opening frame.
 
The Marauders started the second half on a 6-0 run, cutting the Maverick deficit to single digits on several different occasions before MSU pushed its lead back to 15, 69-54 with 7:40 to play, before it went on a 15-5 run opening a 77-59 lead with 4:47 remaining, going on to earn the 84-68 win.
 
The Mavericks cooling off considerably in the second half, only connecting on one attempt from behind the arc (1-of-12) and 26% from the field (10-38) in the final 20 minutes of the contest, but managed to outscore the Marauders 34-33 in the final frame.
 
Gengebacher paced the Mavericks with 15 points and six rebounds, senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.) netted 11 points, while freshman Tyra Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn.) contributed 10 points off the bench. Junior Jamie Bresnahan (Edina, Minn.) finished with a team-high seven rebounds.
 
Collectively the Mavericks connected on 36% (28-78) of their shots from the field, 25% (6-24) from behind the arc and 76% (22-29) from the charity stripe while the Marauders connected on 42% (23-55) from the floor, 15% (2-13) from behind the arc and 83% (20-24) from the free throw line.
 
MSU returns to action Saturday, as it hosts Minot State, opening tip is slated for 4 p.m. at Taylor Center.