Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team notched its fourth conference win of the season, after defeating Bemidji State on Friday evening at Taylor Center, 82-71.

Sophomore forward Claire Ziegler [Mankato, Minn.] had quite the performance in the home contest, as she finished the game with 20 points and 22 rebounds. Ziegler finished three rebounds away from matching MSU's single-game record. Back in the 1978-79 season Mary Manderfield notched 25 rebounds against Moorhead. 

By the end of the first half, Ziegler had already notched her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Mankato East product was also very efficient from the field, as she shot 9-of-13 from the field and added a team-high five assists and two blocks to her statline.
 
BSU built a 21-16 lead after one quarter of play thanks in part to nailing four first quarter 3-pointers. Both teams shot efficient from the field, as the Mavericks connected on 54% of its shots, while the Beavers ended the quarter with a 47% field-goal percentage. Senior center McKenzie Hoelmenn [Lakeville, Minn.] totaled four points and three rebounds in the first.

The Mavericks began the second period on a 13-2 run, that was kick started by sophomore Claire Jordan [Green Bay, Wis.] who drained back-to-back 3-pointers. At the media timeout, MSU led 29-23 over BSU with 4:45 left before halftime. The Mavericks built their largest lead of the half at the break, 41-32. MSU outscored BSU 25-11 in the second quarter and also outrebounded the Beavers 11-3 in the period.

At the break, MSU finished the first half with a 60% field-goal percentage and held BSU 42% from the field. Both teams also turned the ball over a combined 20 times in the first half.  

Jordan tallied eight points and two assists in the first half, while junior Karina Schroeder [Lake Crystal, Minn.] tallied six points and two rebounds in the half.

In the third quarter both teams stood toe-for-toe, as MSU was still leading over BSU heading into the fourth quarter, 61-54. In the quarter the Mavericks built its lead to as much as 14, 55-41, with 5:44 left in the quarter, before the Beavers closed the third on a 14-6 run to cut MSU's lead down to seven.

In the quarter, the Mavericks continued to dominate on the glass, as they again outrebounded the Beavers, 19-11. Ziegler added another six points and eight rebounds in the quarter, while Schroeder added five more points of her own.

In the fourth and final quarter, MSU quickly regained a double-digit lead, 70-60, at the 7:39 mark after a layup from Jordan. From that point on, BSU was never able to cut into the Mavericks lead within single-digits, as MSU defeated BSU, 82-71.

Overall, MSU finished the game with an even 50% field-goal percentage, while BSU finished the night 40% from the field. The Mavericks ended the game with a 50-31 rebounding advantage and their bench outscored the Beavers, 21-9.

Not including Ziegler, three other Mavericks finished the game in double-figures, as Schroeder and junior Britney Scherber [Bloomington, Minn.] each added 15 points in the win. Schroeder also finished the game 7-of-9 from the field along with six rebounds. Rounding out the bunch is Jordan, as she tallied 14 points, three assists and two rebounds.

With the win, MSU improves its overall record to 5-9 and 4-6 in NSIC play.

The Mavericks will close out the weekend with a matchup against Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at Taylor Center. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.