MANKATO, Minn. – The Minnesota State women's basketball team used a second half surge to earn an 84-79 win over the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 7-3 (4-2 NSIC), while the Golden Bears fall to 6-6 (3-3 NSIC).
The game was tight in the first quarter, with Concordia-St. Paul holding a narrow lead at 23-21. MSU outshot CSP 8-of-16 (50%) to 6-of-14 (42.9%) in the quarter.
The Golden Bears started second quarter on a 15-2 run to grow their lead to 15 points at 38-23 with 7:11 to play in the quarter. The Mavericks then used a 15-4 run of their own to battle their way back to within three points at 44-41 with 1:13 to play in the half.
Three points remained the deficit at the half, as the teams went to the locker rooms with CSP leading 46-43.
In the third quarter, MSU outscored CSP 21-15. The Mavericks shot 8-of-16 (50.0%) from the field and held the Golden Bears to 4-of-15 (26.7%) shooting. MSU led 64-61 heading into the fourth quarter.
A three-pointer by CSP tied things up at 64-64 to begin the fourth quarter before the Golden Bears took a 66-64 lead with 8:35 to play. With the score tied 68-68, MSU used an 8-0 run to take a 76-68 lead with 5:18 left in the game.
After a pair of free throws, CSP clawed its way back to within a single point at 78-77 with 1:46 to play, but
Maddy Olson knocked down four consecutive free throws to extend the Maverick lead to 82-77.
The Golden Bears then drew within three points at the end to tie the game, but the Mavericks held on for an 84-79 win.
Olson led the Maverick offense with 14 points, going 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.
Rachel Shumski added 11 points and four rebounds,
Taylor Drost added 10 points and four rebounds, while
Tayla Stuttley also finished with 10 points.
Kirstin Klitzke finished the contest with eight points and dished out a team-high five assists.
As a team, MSU shot 30-of-70 (42.9%) and held CSP to 25-of-63 (39.7%). The Mavericks held a slight 43-41 rebounding advantage.
The Mavericks will be back in action Friday, Jan. 3, when they host Minot State. Tip time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
