Sioux Falls, S.D.  –  The Minnesota State women's basketball team defeated Minnesota Crookston,  70-60, in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

With the win, the Mavericks improve their overall record on the season to 21-8.

The Mavericks used a strong second half to advance past the Golden Eagles, as MSU was able to erase a five-point deficit, 34-29, at halftime and outscore UMC in the second half by 15. The Mavericks shot 55% from the field in the second half, while the Golden Eagles shot just 27%. 

To begin the second half, the Mavericks would quickly tie the game up at 36-36, with 18:29 left in the game, as sophomore guard Sammie Delzotto posted a swift five points within the first 1:30 of the second frame.

For about the next seven minutes in the second half, the Mavericks and Golden Eagles would trade baskets, as MSU was up just two, 47-45, with 10:49 left in the game. After that, the Mavericks would start to pull away from the Golden Eagles, as MSU went on a 12-3 run for the next four minutes to put MSU up, 59-48, with 6:24 left to play in the quarterfinal game.

The closest UMC would get to lead for the rest of the game was at the 3:26 mark in the second half, as the Golden Eagles were able to cut the Mavericks lead to six, 62-56. However, MSU would hold strong to its lead for the rest of the game, as the Mavericks went on to win, 70-60 over the Golden Eagles.

In first half of play, the Mavericks were leading 10-8 over the Golden Eagles with 14:19 left at the first media timeout of the game. Senior forward Lexie Ulfers had already posted six points to help put MSU up early.

For the next four minutes the Mavericks kept on extending their lead into the next media timeout, as they were leading over the Golden Eagles, 22-15, with 10:22 left in the first half. The seven point lead marked as MSU's largest lead of the first half, before UMC started to trim into the Mavericks lead.

The Golden Eagles were able to go on a 15-7 run, to give UMC its first lead of the game over MSU, 30-29 at the 3:55 mark in the first half. At this point in the game, the Mavericks had turn the ball over nine times and at least four Mavericks had accumulated two fouls a piece.

Going into halftime, UMC led 34-29 over MSU, as the Mavericks were held scoreless for the last five minutes of regulation in the first half. The Mavericks shot 39% from the field, while the Golden Eagles shot slightly better with 40%. Each team posted 18 rebounds and 16 points in the paint, while UMC outscored MSU in points off turnovers, 15-6.

At the break, Ulfers led all Mavericks with 13 points on 5-6 shooting from the field, while senior guard Aubrey Davis recorded six points, three assists and three rebounds in the first half.

Overall, the Mavericks shot 46% from the field and converted on five three-pointers in the game, while the Golden Eagles shot 33% from the field and hit just three from beyond the arc.

Davis led all scorers in the game as she finished the game with 20 points, six assists, five rebounds, two steals and went 8-8 from the charity stripe. Ulfers was right behind, ending the contest with 19 points, two blocks and shot 7-8 from the field, while Delzotto and sophomore guard Britney Scherber each added nine points in the win. Senior forward Jamie Bresnahan also grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds, to go along with her five points and two assists.

The Mavericks will advance on to the semifinal round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament to take on Northern State. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. tip-off on Monday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.