Box Score St. Cloud, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (14-13, 11-12 NSIC) lost to the St. Cloud State
Huskies (18-9, 15-8 NSIC) 80-63 Wednesday night in St. Cloud, Minn., in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.

In the opening minutes of the game both teams traded a pair of three-pointers and forced several turnovers.  After Ashley Reed intercepted a pass at the top of the key and took it the length of the floor for a layup, Minnesota State cut the St. Cloud State lead to 11-9 with 3:53 to go.  Coming out of the media timeout, the Huskies went on a 7-1 run to close out the quarter, taking an 18-10 lead into the second.

In the second quarter the Huskies defense focused on stopping Taylor Drost, double teaming her when she got the ball, and the Mavericks responded by getting more ball handlers involved in creating on the offensive end, but ultimately went into the half down 35-19. 

As a team the Mavericks shot 34.8% in the half compared to 56% for the Huskies.  Drost led the way in scoring for Minnesota State with five points. 

The offenses for both teams opened up in the third quarter as the Mavericks scored 20-points, but the Huskies maintained their lead scoring 17-points of their own to take a 52-39 lead into the fourth.

In the four quarter, Minnesota State cut the St. Cloud State lead to 10-points several times but were unable to close the gap beyond that, and the Huskies ultimately came away with the 80-63 victory.

Brooke Tonsfeldt led the Mavericks in scoring with 13-points while adding seven rebounds and steals as well as four assists.  Tayla Stuttley scored 12-points, while Drost finished with 10. 

As a team, Minnesota State shot 33.3% from the field compared to 48% for St. Cloud State. The Mavericks stole the ball 13 times in the game and forced a total of 19 turnovers from the Huskies. 

The loss for the Mavericks will end the 2018-19 campaign.