Box Score MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 19 Minnesota State women's basketball made slight work of Minnesota Crookston in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament earning the 106-63 win.

With the win MSU improves to 22-5 overall, while UMC finishes it season with a mark of 10-17. The Mavericks will advance to the second round and will face the winner of the University of Mary and Winona State.

The Golden Eagles came out firing from deep as its first three made shots of the game came from behind the arc and their fourth made basket was an old-fashioned three-point play, bringing the score to 16-12 in favor of the Mavericks with 12:12 remaining in the frame. The Mavericks were also able to find their groove from downtown, connecting on 6-of-12 (50%) of their shots from behind the arc taking a 47-35 lead into intermission.

MSU used a balanced scoring attack in the first 20 minutes of the game that was led by junior Jamie Bresnahan who finished the frame with 10 points. Senior Ali Wilkinson and junior Ashley Olson each added nine points in the frame, including a 3-of-5 showing from behind the arc by Olson.

The Mavericks connected on 53% (16-30) of their shots from the field, 50% (6-12) from behind the arc and 69% (9-13) of their shots from the charity stripe. The Golden Eagles shot 38% (13-34) of their field goals, 50% (4-8) from deep and went 5-of-5 from the stripe in the first half. MSU was able to score 13 points off of nine first half UMC turnovers.

Wilkinson quickly extinguished any hopes of a UMC comeback as she netted 11 of the Mavericks first 13 points of the half, opening up a 60-47 lead with 16:29 to play. The Mavericks pushed their lead to 32, 88-53 with 7:30 to play and didn't look back, cruising to a 106-63 win.

The Mavericks netted 59 points in the second half, connecting on 51% of their shots from the field and 50% (7-14) from behind the arc in the final frame.

Collectively, the Mavericks finished the game connecting on 52% (35-67) from the field, 50% (13-26) from deep and 85% (23-27) from the stripe and committed 12 turnovers. The Golden Eagles shot 38% (22-58) from the field, 41% (7-17) from deep and 92% (12-13) from the charity stripe. MSU recorded 18 steals and scored 31 points off of the UMC turnovers.

Wilkinson led the Mavericks with a season-high 31 points and seven rebounds and was joined in double figures by Olson and Bresnahan finished with 15 points and 12 points, respectively. 

The Mavericks advance to the quarterfinal round of the NSIC tournament where they will face the University of Mary on Sunday with opening tip slated for 12 p.m.