St. Joseph, Mo. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to Missouri Western State, 89-52, on Thursday night on the road. With the loss, MSU's overall record falls to 0-2.

In the first quarter of play the Griffons came out firing from the start, as they began the game on a 9-0 run, within the first four minutes of regulation. MSU finally got on the scoring column after a made jumper from senior McKenzie Hoelmenn at 5:30 in the first quarter. In the last five minutes of the quarter MSU was able to trim back into MWSU's lead to as close as four, 15-11, with 39 seconds left. The Griffons led at the end of the first 17-11.

In quarter two the Griffons outscored the Mavericks 25-14, as MWSU took its first double-digit of the game, 27-16, at the 6:20 mark of the quarter. MSU got the lead back down to seven 27-20, after a pair of back-to-back baskets from sophomore Madison Lee [Coon Rapids, Minn.] and junior Sammie Delzotto [Eagan, Minn.]. However, that was the closest the Mavericks were to the lead through the rest of the quarter as the Griffons regained their control. MWSU finished the first half on a 15-5 run to push the score to 42-25 at halftime.

In the first half, MSU shot 39% from the field and shot 3-of-10 from three-point range, while MWSU posted a 53% (18-34) from the field and 56% (5-9) from beyond the arc. The Mavericks also turned the ball over 14 times in the half and were outscored 22-8 in the paint.

Lee led MSU at the half with seven points and two rebounds, while sophomore Logan Anderson [Clear Lake, Iowa] connected on two three-pointers to give her six points at the break. Junior Karina Schroeder [Lake Crystal, Minn.] added four points and three boards, while Hoelmenn grabbed a team-high five rebounds in the first half.

In the second half the Griffons kept it rolling as they forced 19 more turnovers on the Mavericks and shot 42% (18-43) from the field and connected on five (5-11) more three-pointers. MSU shot 35% (9-26) from the field and 43% (3-7) from three-point territory in the second half.

Freshman Taylor Paulsrud [Rogers, Minn.] led all MSU players with seven points and two assists in the second half, while Hoelmenn collected five points and four boards. Sophomore Claire Ziegler [Mankato, Minn.] tallied a team-high seven rebounds in the second half.

Overall, the Mavericks were outscored 48-18 in the paint and 13-3 in second chance points against the Griffons. Each bench finished the game with 25 points apiece.

Lee finished with a team-high 10 points in the loss, along with three rebounds. Anderson ended the game with nine points, three assists and two rebounds, while Hoelmenn finished again just shy of a double-double with seven points and nine rebounds.

MSU will host its first home game of the season on Sunday against Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. at Taylor Center.