SIOUX FALLS, S.D. ---  The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to south division leading Sioux Falls, 84-72, Friday evening at Stewart Center. 

With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 9-8, including a 5-8 NSIC record. With the win, Sioux Falls moves to 15-2, including a 11-2 league record. 

Both teams exchanged possessions in a fast paced opening quarter before Sammie Delzotto connected on a triple to give the Mavericks a early 7-4 lead. The Cougars wasted little time tying the game at nine following the media timeout. Sioux Falls then found offense with a 10-0 run to create a 10 point edge, 19-9, with 1:57 on the clock. Minnesota State closed the quarter with a 8-0 run of their own to make the score 22-17 after one quarter. 

Sioux Falls rapidly stretched the lead up to 11, 30-19, by the 6:33 mark. The Mavericks responded to cut the deficit down to eight, 30-22, after a Britney Scherber free throw. The Cougars once again stole momentum to create a double digit lead, 37-24, following a layup. Logan Anderson provided a spark for the Minnesota State offense with a triple to make the score 37-27 with 2:06 on the clock which would begin to a 10-0 run to close the half. The Mavericks trailed at the intermission, 37-34. 

The Cougars wasted little time establishing an offensive rhythm in the second half with a nine point edge, 49-40, after a triple. Minnesota State would not go away however, Scherber was able to drive the lane and connect on a layup to make the score 49-44 prior to a timeout. Sioux Falls was then able to extend the lead back into the double digits, 58-48, at the 1:43 mark. On the final play of the quarter, Delzotto was able to find Taylor Klug in transition for the buzzer beating layup to end the quarter, 61-55.  

Minnesota State carried the energy into the final quarter to pull within six, 63-57, after a Delzotto layup. The Cougars quickly buried a pair of shots to make the score 67-57 with 7:45 remaining. However, the Mavericks would not be able to draw any closer and went on to drop the contest, 84-72. 

Sioux Falls held the slight edge in rebounds, 42-39. Minnesota State shot 38.1% from the three point and 35.3% from the field. 

Scherber netted a team-high 19 points in her 101st game as a Maverick to join the 1,000 career points club. She is the 21st player in program history to reach the mark. 

Senior Karina Schroeder grabbed a team-best eight rebounds and netted 10 points while Anderson also netted 10 points and created two steals to round out the top performers. 

The Mavericks return to the floor tomorrow at Southwest Minnesota State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.