Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team took down Southwest Minnesota State on "Senior Day", 79-63.

With the win, MSU improves its overall record to 9-17 and its NSIC record to 8-14.
 
After a sluggish start to the game for the Mavericks, as they found themselves down by as much as 13 points early in the second quarter, MSU worked its way back into the game. The Mavericks were able to fight their way back in the second period and eventually took its first lead of the game right before halftime, 34-33. Then in third it was all Mavericks as they outscored the Mustangs 29-13, which helped catapult them to victory.

Early on in the game the Mustangs nailed six of their first eight shot attempts in the first quarter, including three 3-pointers which helped give them a 17-9 lead over the Mavericks at the first media timeout. SMSU cooled off a bit shooting throughout the rest of the quarter but held a 24-13 lead over MSU heading in the second period. For the Mavericks, junior Britney Scherber [Bloomington, Minn.] scored seven points, while sophomore Claire Ziegler [Mankato, Minn.] added four points and two assists in the quarter.

Early in the second quarter SMSU extended its lead to 26-13 at the 9:22 mark, before MSU fought its way back and the tied the score at 26-26. The Mavericks held the Mustangs scoreless for the next five minutes of game action and went on a 13-0 run midway through the quarter to tie the score up. The Mustangs didn't score their second basket until the 4:03 mark in the quarter after Annessa Rosch drained her fourth three of the half. MSU finally held its first lead of the game right before halftime, as sophomore Madison Lee [Coon Rapids, Minn.] swished home a three with five second left on the clock. The Mavericks led 34-33 over the Mustangs at the break.

In the first half the Mavericks shot 46% from the field, while the Mustangs cooled off a bit from their first quarter shooting, as they ended the half shooting 43% from the field. SMSU also finished with five three-pointers in the first half as well.

MSU built a 20-12 advantage on the boards and outscored the SMSU 8-0 in second chance points. The Mavericks bench also outscored the Mustangs 11-2 in the first half.
Ziegler ended the half with eight points, three rebounds and three assists, while senior McKenzie Hoelmenn [Lakeville, Minn.] collected eight points and four rebounds of her own.

The Mavericks momentum carried over into the third as they outscored the Mustangs 29-13 in the quarter. MSU shot a ridiculous 77% from the field in the third and held SMSU to 27% shooting. Scherber scored 13 points in the third quarter for the Mavericks which helped give MSU a 63-46 lead heading into the fourth.

In the final period MSU held strong to its lead as it led by as much as 24 points midway through the fourth quarter.  

MSU saw solid performances from a number of players as seven players scored five or more points in the win. The Mavericks connected on 56% of their shots in the game which marks as a new season-high for the team. SMSU finished the game shooting 41% from the field and connected on eight three-pointers.

The Mavericks dominated the boards all game as they pulled down 36, compared to the Mustangs grabbing 21. Points in the paint, MSU also had the upper hand in as it outscored SMSU, 38-22.

Scherber recorded her third straight 20-point performance with 23 points, while shooting 50% from the field and 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. Ziegler chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Hoelmenn finished with 12 points as well, along with a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman Ashley Reed [Whitefish Bay, Wis.] posted a new season-high nine points, along with five rebounds, while freshman Taylor Paulsrud [Rogers, Minn.] collected seven points and three assists.

Next up for the Mavericks will be the NSIC Tournament. MSU will travel up to Crookston, Minn. to take on Minnesota Crookston on Wednesday night in first round action. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.