MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (5-8, 2-7 NSIC) lost to the Sioux Falls Cougars (11-4 6-3 NSIC) 81-71 Friday night at Taylor Center.

The first quarter started with a frantic pace as both teams came out of the gate shooting lights out.  The Cougars jumped ahead with a 17-14 that propelled them to take a 23-18 lead into the second quarter.

The pace in the second quarter slowed significantly with fouls causing several stoppages.  Despite a balanced Mavericks Scoring attack, the Cougars extended their lead to take a 38-28 lead into the half.

Taylor Drost led the way for Minnesota State scoring seven points in the first half while Kristi Fett came off the bench to add six points and six rebounds.  The Mavericks held the first half edge in rebounds 22-19 and shot 6-6 from the free throw line. 

The Third quarter saw the pace increase once again as both teams got good looks at the basket and were able to capitalize.  Minnesota State managed to cut into the lead throughout the quarter, making it only a nine-point deficit going into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter the Mavericks roared back to tie the game with a 9-0 before the Cougars stemmed the tide and responded with a 9-0 of their own.  Several times the Mavericks were able to cut the lead to five points, but couldn't get the game any closer, leading to the 81-71 win for the Cougars.

Drost finished as the leading scorer for Minnesota State with 20-points going 7-13 from the floor.  Monica Muth added 14 points and Tayla Stuttley finished with ten points.  Fett and Brooke Tonsfeldt finished the game with seven rebounds apiece. 

Minnesota State shot a higher percentage from the free throw line, 89.5% to 52.6% and from three-point range, 46.2% to 37.1%, the difference being that the Cougars made 13 threes compared to six for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks will continue their home-stand with a game tomorrow against Southwest Minnesota State, at 3:30 p.m., in Taylor Center.