MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball rolled past Southwest Minnesota State, 106-77, at Taylor Center in front of 982 fans.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 16-9 on the season, and a 12-9 NSIC record. With the loss, Southwest Minnesota State moves to 3-22, including a 3-18 NSIC record.
Minnesota State opened the game by scoring the first seven points of the game and forcing the Mustangs into an early timeout.
Britney Scherber started the action for the Mavericks by scoring the first five points of the night with Minnesota State jumping out to a 9-0 lead.
Sammie Delzotto kept the momentum in favor of the Mavericks stealing an in-bound pass underneath the basket and finishing her lay-up to bring the Minnesota State advantage to 13-2. The Mavericks continued to find their range behind the three point line in the first quarter with Scherber,
Taylor Klug, and
Logan Anderson contributing from behind the arc. Minnesota State closed out the quarter leading 35-17 after a strong defense kept the Mustangs from scoring in their last three possessions.
The Mavericks offense was slowed in the second quarter while the Mustangs where in double bonus with seven minutes left in the half. Southwest Minnesota State narrowed the Minnesota State edge to 16 with an 11-5 run bringing the score to 44-28 with 5:59 on the clock. The Mavericks responded quickly with a 11-3 run of their taking their lead to 55-30. Both teams traded scoring possessions leading into halftime.
Minnesota State led 61-42 at the break while shooting 53.7% from the field. Scherber led the Mavericks with 15 points and was 3-5 from three point range in the first half. Klug added 12 and
Karina Schroeder had nine. Minnesota State had the advantage in rebounds (23), steals (10), and forced 14 turnovers.
The Maverick defense continued to shine at the start of the second half, bringing full court pressure and making it difficult for the Mustangs to execute in-bound plays. At the first media timeout of the second half, the Mavericks extended their lead to 76-51 with Schroeder gaining a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Minnesota State closed out the third quarter on a 16-4 run to leading the Mustangs, 88-55.
Southwest Minnesota State would make a late rally in the fourth quarter cutting the Maverick lead to 93-69 with under five minutes left to play. Minnesota State went on to reach the 100 point plateau for the first time since a 106-63 victory over Minnesota Crookston on February 26, 2014 in the NSIC tournament.
Mandy Szymborski scored her first points of the contest in the fourth quarter to bring the Maverick lead to 100-77. Minnesota State would go on to down the Mustangs 106-77.
Four Mavericks finished with double digits in the points column: Scherber (20), Schroeder (18), Delzotto (14), and Klug (12) rounded out the top scorers. Minnesota State collected 46 rebounds and the bench out scored the Mustang bench 50-20.
The Mavericks will return to Taylor Center tomorrow to host Sioux Falls on senior day. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.
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