MANKATO, Minn. --- Senior Claire Jordan netted a career-high 30 points as Minnesota State cruised past Southwest Minnesota State, 81-53, Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center.

Jordan led Minnesota State (6-12, 4-8 NSIC) with a game-high and career-best 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from the three point arc. The senior guard has reached double figures in the last four games and eight total times this season. She is the first player to reach the 30-point plateau since Ali Wilkinson posted 35 points against Augustana on Jan. 4, 2013.

Minnesota State controlled the tempo in the opening minutes with a 9-0 run featuring four points from Jordan. SMSU ( 4-12, 3-10 NSIC) answered with a 10-2 run of its own to chip the Maverick edge down to one, 11-10, with 1:39 on the clock. Minnesota State led after one quarter of play, 13-10. Jordan paced the Mavericks with four points and three steals. Both teams struggled to maintain possession in the opening frame with six turnovers each.

SMSU found an offensive rhythm starting the second quarter with seven unanswered points to create a four point, 17-13, edge at the 8:04 mark. Minnesota State battled back to regain lead as junior Monica Muth connected with Jordan in transition for a layup, 20-19, with 6:10 to play in the half. The Mavericks closed the half with a 14-2 run that included five points from Jordan and four points from senior Claire Ziegler. Minnesota State led at the intermission, 34-21.

At the half, Jordan led the Mavericks with 16 points, while Ziegler added eight points and six rebounds. Minnesota State shot 42.9% from the field in comparison to Southwest Minnesota State's 25.0%.

The Mavericks began to put the game out of reach opening the third quarter on a 14-7 run to open up a 20- point, 48-28, advantage after Ziegler drained a layup. The Mustangs pushed back with five unanswered points to make the score 50-33 at the 3:50 mark. Minnesota State led after the third frame, 56-37.

The Mavericks continued to cruise on offense extending their lead up to 23 after freshman Kirstin Klitzke found Jordan for a layup in the paint with 6:01 remaining. Minnesota State did not look back opening up its largest lead of the game, 78-45, following a pair of free throws from Klitzke with 2:46 on the clock. Minnesota State went on to close out the remaining time and pick up the 81-53 win. 
 
As a team, the Mavericks held the edge in rebounds (48-34) and assists (18-5). Minnesota State shot 49.2% from the field in comparison to SMSU's 32.4%.

Ziegler recorded her second straight and fourth double-double of season with a team-best 13 rebounds to go along with 12 points and four assists. Muth contributed eight points, four assists, and three rebounds. Sophomore Taylor Drost also chipped in eight points to round out the top performers.

Minnesota State returns to action on Jan. 23 at Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.