MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (5-4, 2-3 NSIC) Upper Iowa Peacocks (3-9, 0-5 NSIC) Saturday night at Taylor Center.

A night after recording her first double-double of the season, Brooke Tonsfeldt got the scoring going when she put back a missed jumper.  The Mavericks maintained an early scoring rhythm, jumping out to a 14-9 lead with 3:34 to go in the first quarter.  Minnesota State outscored Upper Iowa 8-4 to end the quarter, capped off with a layup from Rachel Shumski after an inside bounce pass from Tayla Stuttley. 

The second quarter saw the Mavericks continue to grow their early lead with contributions coming from everyone who got onto the floor, taking a 42-24 lead into the half.

Taylor Drost led all scorers in the first half with 12 points in only eight minutes and Tonsfeldt led Minnesota State in rebounds with eight while adding four points of her own and a steal.  The Mavericks out-rebounded the Peacocks 24-15 in the half and assisted on 13 shots compared to only six for Upper Iowa.

Coming out of the half, Minnesota State kept the offense rolling, opening with a 6-2 run and forcing the Peacocks to take a timeout.  Despite a late push from the Peacocks, the Mavericks still took a 66-44 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Upper Iowa started the fourth quarter with the ball until Rylee Menster stole the ball and found Emmaline Polson for a bucket near the rim.  A few possessions later the Mavericks were able to force a turnover, finding Ashley Reed on a run-out, and when the Peacocks tried to get the ball inside on the next possession, Anna Wanek stole the pass and again found Reed for a layup and the Mavericks ultimately cruised to an 89-57 win.

Drost led all scorers with 16 points in 16 minutes, adding three assists and shooting 7-11 from the floor.  Tonsfeldt finished with 10 rebounds and six points while Shumski added seven boards and eight points of her own.  11 Mavericks recorded at least two assists in the game and the team finished with 29 dishes, the most in a game since the Mavericks recorded 33 against Buena Vista on Nov. 12, 2013. 

As a team, Minnesota State out-rebounded Upper Iowa 45-24 and finished with the 29 assists compared to 12.  The Mavericks also stole the ball 14 times in the game and garnered 43 points from the bench. 

Wednesday, Dec. 19, the Mavericks will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, for an exhibition game with Northern Iowa, at 5:00 p.m., before a brief winter break.