WAYNE, Neb. ---  The Minnesota State women's basketball team downed Wayne State, 85-72, Friday evening at Rice Auditorium. 

The Mavericks sprinted out to a quick 7-4 lead after a Sammie Delzotto lay up. Following a media time out, Wayne State connected from downtown to lock the game at seven with 4:55 to play in the quarter. Minnesota State responded with a 6-0 run to build a 13-7 advantage after a Logan Anderson lay up at the 2:19 mark. The Mavericks led after the first quarter, 13-10.

Minnesota State swelled their advantage to 16-12 before Wayne State stormed back to capture the lead, 18-16. The Wildcats did not let off the gas growing their lead to 24-19 with 2:32 to play in the half. The Mavericks controlled the remaining time with a strong 7-0 run to take a 26-24 advantage into the intermission. Minnesota State held the edge in rebounds, 32-17, after two quarters of play. 

Wayne State opened the second half cutting the deficit down to two, 34-32. Minnesota State was then able to construct a 9-0 run highlighted by back-to-back three pointers from Delzotto to put the Mavericks up, 43-32, with 5:59 left in the quarter. The Wildcats fought back to draw within three, 43-40, at the 4:19 mark.Britney Scherber answered for Minnesota State from downtown to grow the lead up to six, 48-42, with 3:20 to play in the quarter. The Mavericks led at the end of the third quarter, 59-50. 

Minnesota State increased it's lead up to 13, 65-52, after a Heidi Cap lay up with 8:29 remaining. The Mavericks continued to find offense as Taylor Klug connected on a jumper to create the largest lead of the game, 74-56, with 5:33 to play. Wayne State made a late push to cut the advantage down to 13, 80-67. However, Minnesota State went on to run out the remaining time and pick up a 85-72 win. 

The Mavericks held the edge in rebounds (48-35) and steals (15-10). Additionally, the MSU bench netted 30 points. 

With the win, Minnesota State picks up its first win at Rice Auditorium. However, Wayne State leads the all-time series, 15-7. 

Scherber led the Mavericks with a season-high 21 points. Three additional players reached double digits in scoring: Klug (18), Delzotto (12), and junior Claire Ziegler (12).  Sophomore Monica Muth pulled down a team-best eight rebounds and dished out three assists to round out the top performers. 

With the win, Minnesota State moves to 4-0 (1-0 NSIC) on the season. The Mavericks will return to the floor tomorrow against Augustana. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.