Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- No. 23 Minnesota State overcame a nine-point deficit in claiming a 69-63 win over Minnesota Duluth Saturday.

With the win, the Mavericks have extend its home winning-streak to 23 games and improve to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in NSIC games for the year.

Minnesota State jumped out to a 12-7 lead, fueled by Karlee Gengenbacher (Quincy, Ill.),who scored the first seven points for MSU. The two teams would then be held without a field goal for over four and a half minutes and despite 15 first half turnovers, the Mavericks took a 31-22 lead into intermission.

MSU was led in the first half by Gengenbacher, who netted 12 points. Fellow senior Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.) hauled in five rebounds in the first 20 minutes, but was unable to make her way to the scoring column.

The Mavericks connected on 46% (12-26) of their shots from the field, 43% (3-7) from behind the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe during the first 20 minutes and MSU limited UMD to a 29% (8-28) showing from the field, 22% (2-9) from behind the arc and forced 13 first half Bulldog turnovers.

The Mavericks were out rebounded 15-6 to start the second half and found themselves in a nine-point hole, trailing the Bulldogs 54-45 with 7:25 to play. That is when Wilkinson took over where she sparked a 9-0 MSU run, tallying four points, an assist and drew a charge to level the score with five minutes to play.

MSU kept the offensive pressure on, as it outscored UMD 6-2 in the final two minutes of the contest to earn the 69-63 win.

Wilkinson led the Mavericks with 21 points and nine rebounds in the contest, with all 21 points coming in the second half. Wilkinson fell one rebound shy of her 30th career double-double. Gengenbacher was the only other Maverick to reach double-figures, finishing the game with 16 points.

The Mavericksw connected on 46% (24-52) of their shots from the field, shot 35% (6-17) from behind the arc and 94% (15-16) from the charity stripe. MSU held UMD to a 38% (24-63) showing from the field, 20% (3-15) from behind the arc and forced 20 Bulldog turnovers.

No. 23 MSU will take to the road for its first road contest of 2014 as it battles Northern State and MSU-Moorhead next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.