MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (12-12, 9-11 NSIC) defeated the Wayne State Wildcats (13-13, 8-12 NSIC) 90-82 Saturday afternoon in Mankato, Minn.  After the game the Mavericks celebrated the careers of seniors Monica Muth and Ashley Reed. 

In the opening minutes the Mavericks forced several turnovers and immediately turned them into fast-break points in building a 15-8 lead with 4:02 to go in the quarter.  Minnesota State outscored the Wildcats in the final minutes of the quarter 8-6 and took a 23-14 lead into the second. 

In the second quarter the Mavericks built on their lead as Maddy Olson drilled her third three pointer of the game giving the team a 33-19 lead.  With every made Wayne State shot, Minnesota State responded with a make of their own, and took a 44-29 lead into the half. 

Taylor Drost led all scorers in the half with 11 points while Olson added nine points and Kirstin Kirstin Klitzke scored nine points while adding seven rebounds and four assists.  As a team, the Mavericks shot 40.5% from the field compared to 30.3% for the Wildcats. 

Minnesota State also recorded 11 assists compared to five for Wayne State.

The Wildcats quickly scored 15 points in the in the third quarter, but the Mavericks recorded 10 of their own to maintain a 54-44 lead with 4:41 to go.  Minnesota State pushed their lead back up to 16 at the end of the third thanks to several good minutes from Ashley Reed, who capitalized on a few second chance opportunities. 

In the fourth quarter, Reed continued to set the pace, fighting through a foul for a layup, and cutting to the basket for a long lay-in to give Minnesota State a 71-51 lead.  After converting an and-one, the Wildcats cut the Maverick lead to eight with 2:30 to go. 

Minnesota State held off the charging Wildcats though, and ultimately came away with the 90-82 win. 

Tayla Stuttley led the Mavericks in scoring with 16 points while Reed matched her career high with 14 points and set a career high with six steals while also adding eight rebounds.  Muth scored nine points in the game while recording six boards and assists and stealing the ball twice. 

As a team the Mavericks shot 46.1% from the field and made nine three-pointers.  Minnesota State also stole the ball 14 times and recorded 19 assists. 

The Mavericks will take to the road for the final two games of the regular season, facing off with Upper Iowa Friday at 5:30 p.m., before taking on Winona State Saturday at 3:30 p.m.