Box Score CROOKSTON, Minn. --- #21 Minnesota State women's basketball uses a 69-57 over Minnesota Crookston to extend its winning streak to eight games.


With the win the Mavericks improve to 19-5 overall with a mark of 16-4 in NSIC action, while the Golden Eagles fall to 10-14 overall and 7-13 on the circuit.


The Mavericks struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the first half as they committed an uncharacteristic 10 first half turnovers, while the Golden Eagles committed 11. MSU's defense was strong allowing the Mavericks to take a 30-23 lead into intermission. The Mavericks tallied six first-half blocks, led by junior Lexie Ulfers who rejected three shots in the first frame.


Senior Karlee Gengenbacher paced the Mavericks in the opening frame netting eight points, while junior Aubrey Davis dropped in seven points, including the last four Maverick points heading into halftime.


As a unit, MSU connected on 34% (11-32) of its shots from the field, 23% (3-13) from deep and 83% (5-6) from the charity stripe. UMC shot 31% (8-26) from the field, 78% (7-9) from the free throw line but was unable to tickle the twine from deep, missing on all six of its attempts from behind the arc in the opening half.   


The Mavericks found themselves up only three points in the second half with Gengenbacher, Ulfers and senior Ali Wilkinson all on the bench with three fouls each. That is when the MSU bench stepped up, sparked by freshman Sammie Delzotto who scored eight-straight points, opening up a 51-38 halfway through the second half. The deficit proved insurmountable as the Mavericks went on to earn the 69-57 win.


MSU was able to find some offensive rhythm in the second half, connecting on 42% of its shots from the field in the final 20 minutes to finish the game shooting 39% (25-65) from the field, 18% (4-22) from deep and 68% (15-22) from the stripe. The Golden Eagles connected on 35% (19-54) of its shots from the field, 20% (3-15) from behind the arc and 70% (16-23) from the stripe.


Gengenbacher recorded her sixth straight double-digit game, netting a team-high 16 points, while Delzotto added 12 points, five rebounds and five steals. Davis was the only other Maverick to reach double-figures, finishing with 10 points.


The Mavericks take to the road for the final weekend of the regular season as they travel to Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Sioux Falls next Friday and Saturday, respectively.