Aberdeen, S.D. – The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to Northern State on Friday night by the score of 85-80. 
 
With the loss, the Mavericks record falls to 13-6 overall and 10-4 in conference play.

Just over halfway through the first half, at the 9:32 mark, NSU was able to build a 20-13 advantage over MSU before the Mavericks were able to cut into the Wolves lead. MSU was able to trim NSU's lead to two a couple of times before the Wolves would extend their lead again.

At the 2:24 mark, the Mavericks were able to cut the Wolves lead to three, 34-31, off a three-point basket from senior guard Ashley Olson. However, that would be the closest the Mavericks would get throughout the rest of the half, as NSU was able to end the half on a 9-0 to make the score 43-31 at the break.

At halftime, the Mavericks shot 40% from the field in the first half, whereas the Wolves were able to shoot an impressive 65% from the field. Both teams also utilized the three as the Mavericks shot 41% (5-12) from beyond the arc, while the Wolves shot 50% (4-8).

Individually, Olson and senior guard Aubrey Davis led the Mavericks in scoring as each one posted six points. Davis also manage to record three assists and three steals, while junior center McKenzie Hoelmenn and sophomore guard Britney Scherber each tallied five points off the bench.

At the 14:19 mark in the second half the Mavericks were still down by 12 to the Wolves, 51-39, before MSU was able to cut back into NSU's lead. For the next four minutes, the Mavericks were able to go on a 17-6 run, to cut the Wolves lead to one, 57-56 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

MSU would be able hang close with NSU for next four minutes, until NSU was able to extend its lead back to double-digits, 71-61, with 5:02 remaining in the game. The Mavericks never were able to take the lead in the second half as NSU always seemed to have an answer when MSU would cut close to the Wolves lead. In a game where NSU was leading over the Mavericks for 35 minutes of game time, the Wolves went on to beat the Mavericks by the score of 85-80.

In the game, the Mavericks were able to shoot 46% from the field, including 50% (13-26) from behind the arc, whereas the Wolves shot a blistering 56% from the field.  MSU was able to outscore NSU in second chance points, 21-4, and on the bench, 17-9.  

The difference in the game came from the charity stripe as MSU shot just 9-16 from the free-throw line, while NSU shot an impressive 23-24 from the line.

Davis led the Mavericks in the game as she finished with a team-high 20 points, including 4-7 from deep. Davis also added seven assists, five rebounds and three steals, while Olson posted a career-high 18 points of her own, as she went 5-9 from three. Senior forward Lexie Ulfers recorded 14 points, six boards and two assists in the game, while Scherber ended the game with 12 points of her own.

The Mavericks will continue their stay on their road, as MSU will travel to MSU Moorhead for a Saturday afternoon tip-off set for 4 p.m.