Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to MSU Moorhead on Saturday evening, 65-50, at Taylor Center.
 
In a game where the Dragons held onto the lead all 40 minutes, the Mavericks struggled shooting the ball all game as they finished the game with a 29% field-goal percentage, including 20% from three. The Dragons shot slightly better with a 35% field-goal percentage and converted on 11 three-pointers in the process.
 
In first quarter the shooting struggle began right away for MSU, as it connected on just 21% of its shots (3-14). MSUM wasn't too much better as it shot 29% from field, but drained three key 3-pointers in the period to help give the Dragons a, 19-6 lead over the Mavericks after one quarter. Also helping the Dragons build their lead was that they put together a 20-10 rebounding advantage over the Mavericks, including eight offensive rebounds alone.
 
The three-point parade continued for Dragons in the second quarter as they nailed four more against the Mavericks. MSU was able to hit its first two three-pointers in the quarter but was never able to cut the Dragons lead to single digits, as the halftime score stood at 35-21.
 
For first half stats, the Mavericks shot 28% from the field, while the Dragons connected on 35% of its shots, including 7-of-21 from three-point land. In rebounds, MSUM led at the break with a 29-19 advantage over MSU. Junior Sammie Delzotto [Eagan, Minn.] and sophomore Claire Jordan [Green Bay, Wis.] each tallied five points in the first half, while sophomore Claire Ziegler [Mankato, Minn.] tallied four points and a team-leading five rebounds.
 
In the second half it was more of the same for the Mavericks as they could never get the Dragons lead under double-digits. The closest MSU got to MSUM's lead was at the 6:43 mark in the fourth quarter, as the Mavericks cut the Dragons lead down to 53-40. However soon after that, the Dragons went on a 9-2 run to extend their lead to 20, 62-42, which marked as MSUM's largest of the game.
 
For the Mavericks Jordan led the way in the scoring column with 10 points, along with five rebounds, while freshman guard Monica Muth [Cambridge, Wis.] pulled down a new season-high 10 rebounds and also added six points and two assists. Ziegler finished right behind with nine rebounds of her own and six points.
 
With today's loss, MSU's overall record falls to 6-14 and 5-11 in NSIC play.
 
Next up on the docket for the Mavericks will be a four game roadtrip the next two weeks. MSU will begin with a long road trip to the University of Mary and Minot State next weekend. The Mavericks will take on U-Mary on Friday in Bismarck, N.D. at 6:00 p.m., before turning their attention to MISU on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.