Sioux Falls, S.D. –  The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to Sioux Falls on Friday night by the score of 74-62. 

The Mavericks shot just 32% from the field all game and 4-16 (25%) from three, whereas USF shot 42% from the field and made nine three-pointers.

For the season, the Mavericks usually average 42% from the field a game and shoot 37% from beyond the arc, with about eight made three-pointers a game.

With the loss, MSU's overall record falls to 18-8 and 15-6 in NSIC play.

Minnesota State found themselves down early, as the score was 15-7 in Sioux Falls advantage after the first media timeout, with 13:56 left in the first half. The Cougars kept on extending their lead over the Mavericks, while at one point USF held a 20 point lead, 35-15, over MSU with 5:29 left to play in the first.

Soon after that, the Mavericks would battle back for the last five minutes of the half, as MSU managed to end the half on a 15-2 run, to cut the Cougars lead to seven, 37-30, at halftime. During the run, sophomore guard Britney Scherber posted eight of her 12 points in the first half.

In the half, the Mavericks shot 32% from the field, as the Cougars shot 41%. The Mavericks were also outscored in the paint by the Cougars, 18-6 and shot just 7-13 from the free-throw line.

Scherber led the way at halftime for the Mavericks with a team-high 12 points, while senior forward Jamie Bresnahan recorded five points and five boards and sophomore guard Sammie Delzotto tallied four points and four boards.

To begin the second half, the Mavericks were able to dwindle the Cougars lead to five a couple of times within the first three minutes of the half. However, that would be closest MSU got throughout the rest of the game.

The Mavericks were down 39-34 with 17:32 left to play in the game, before the Cougars went on a 21-4 run, to put USF up 60-38 with 8:56 remaining. 

MSU was able cut the Cougars lead to 10 at one point, 66-56, with 2:57 remaining but there was just too little time left on the clock for the Mavericks. USF went on to beat MSU, by the final score of 74-62.

In the second half, senior guard Aubrey Davis posted 12 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Delzotto added seven more points and four rebounds.

For the game, the Mavericks converted 20-29 (69%) from the free-throw line, while USF was able to outscore MSU in the paint, 30-16, and in fast break points, 11-2.

Scherber ended the game with 15 points to lead the Mavericks, while Davis added 14 points, six boards and four assists. Delzotto chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds, as Bresnahan finished with seven points and eight rebounds.

The Mavericks will return to action on Saturday for their regular season finale. MSU will travel to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State for a 5 p.m. tip-off.