MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team cruised past St. Olaf in exhibition play, 87-37, Wednesday evening at Taylor Center. 

A strong defensive presence aided the Mavericks early as they jumped out to a 9-0 lead heading into the first media timeout.Taylor Drost then connected from long range and Claire Jordan added a fast break point to make the score 16-3 with 2:32 remaining in the frame. Minnesota State closed out the quarter on a 10-2 run pushing its edge to 26-5 after one quarter of play. 

The Mavericks kept momentum rolling into the second frame stretching their lead to 24, 31-7, after Ashley Reed connected on a lay up at the 7:55 mark. Minnesota State closed the quarter as Monica Muth found Heidi Cap in the paint for a buzzer beating lay up. The Mavericks headed into the locker room with a 47-13 advantage. 

Jordan kept Minnesota State offense rolling in the third quarter sinking the Mavericks seventh three-pointer of the game to make the score  54-15 with 7:30 on the clock.  With time expiring in the frame, Cap gained an offensive rebound and then handed it off Drost for a jumper. Minnesota State led after three quarters of play, 66-19. 

The Mavericks continued to apply pressure in the final frame as Drost dropped a deep three increasing the edge to 69-24. Following a Minnesota State steal later in the stanza, the Mavericks netted a lay up to make the score 77-27 with 6:36 to play. MSU went on to close out the Oles, 87-37.

The Mavericks held the edge in rebounds (49-37), assists (18-7), and steals (19-6). Minnesota State shot 44.9% from the field and netted 11 three pointers as a team.

Jordan paced the Mavericks with a game-high 19 points while Drost netted 12 points of her own. Muth tallied a game-best nine rebounds to go along with 11 points to round out the top performers. 

The Mavericks will continue exhibition play on Sunday at Nebraska. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. Minnesota State opens the regular season on Nov. 10 against Washburn in Kansas City, Mo., at 6:45 p.m.