St. Cloud, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team fell to the St. Cloud State Huskies, 84-77, Saturday afternoon at Halenbeck Hall.
 
With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 9-7 (6-6 NSIC), while the Huskies improve to 12-4 (9-3 NSIC).
 
The Mavericks opened the game securing a 3-0 lead minutes in, but the Huskies rallied back, taking the lead back and extending it to 24-13 by the end of the quarter, on the back of making all three of their three-point attempts.

The Maverick offense found its groove in the second quarter as MSU was able to cut the SCSU lead from 14-points to four points with 4:26 to go in the half after Taylor Drost converted on an and-one.  A couple of possessions later, Rylee Menster cut into the lane and drilled a layup to tie the game at 33-33 with 2:55 to go.  The Huskies converted on a couple of three-pointers late in the quarter and regained the lead, taking a 42-38 advantage into the locker room.

Drost led the Mavericks in scoring in the first half with 11-points while Kristi Fett recorded six points and five rebounds.  As a team, the Mavericks forced 10 turnovers while outscoring the Huskies at the free throw line 8-3.

Throughout the third quarter, SCSU managed to extend their lead back to nine points, ultimately taking a 62-53 lead into the final quarter.

The Mavericks once again made a late run, and after a pair of free throws from Tayla Stuttley and a three-pointer from Menster, the Huskies lead was cut to 81-77 with nine seconds to go in the game.  After a pair of SCSU free throws, Stuttley's three-pointer rimmed out and the Huskies collected the rebound forcing MSU to foul and giving SCSU the final point to earn the 84-77 win.

Stuttley finished the game with a team lead 18-points while Drost added 11.  Fett finished the game with seven boards to go along with eight points.  The Maverick bench outscored the Huskies bench 35-16 but SCSU held the rebounding edge 45-31.
 
Minnesota State will return home next weekend for a pair of games against Wayne State and Augustana.  Friday night, the Mavericks will host the Wildcats with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.  Saturday, MSU will face off with the Vikings with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m.