MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State Mavericks took on the Augustana Vikings at home, winning 61-60. 

MSU has now improved to 11-7 and 8-6 in conference after winning its last two games. Augie drops to 11-7, including a 7-7 conference record.

The Mavericks came out of the gates with a 7-0 run after senior Kirstin Klitzke opened the game with a layup. Augustana responded by going on a 10-0 run themselves and built a 10-7 lead with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter. MSU and AU traded baskets throughout the rest of the first quarter as the Vikings took the lead entering the second quarter, 22-18. 

Defense for both sides tightened up during the second quarter, as MSU held the Vikings to just eight points after surrendering 22 points in the first quarter. On the other side of things, the Mavericks stayed consistent in the second quarter, putting up 15 points of their own, as they carried a 33-30 lead into halftime.

MSU didn't shy away from their three-point shooting, going 4-for-18 in the first half. Augustana went 3-for-11, shooting 27.3% from downtown. Both teams shot 34.3% from the field by halftime, but it was MSU's ability to draw fouls and go to the line nine times. 

Klitzke led the team with seven points at halftime, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 1-of-2 from distance.

Junior Tayla Stuttley had six points and junior Brooke Tonsfeldt had five to round out the next two leading scorers.

The Mavericks continued to control the game in the third quarter and would enter the fourth with the score being 46-43. It was an evenly paced game, as both teams scored 13 points each. The fourth quarter was a tightly contested ball game, with both teams trading baskets and things going down to the wire. 

Augustana took its first lead of the half with about six minutes remaining in fourth quarter.

Stuttley then gave the Mavericks a 59-58 lead after a pair of free throws with 1:44 remaining. An Augustana steal eventually led to the Vikings going up 60-59 with 1:14 remaining in the game.

MSU received the ball out of the timeout trailing 60-59 with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth. A layup from freshman Joey Batt would then give the Mavericks the 61-60 lead with 4.6 seconds remaining and an eventual Mavericks win.

Klitzke finished the game with 12 points and was the team's leading scorer and shot 4-for-8 from the field.  Batt ended the game with 11 points and two rebounds and was a key part of the team's win down the stretch. Junior Rachel Shumski finished with nine points and led the team with 10 rebounds. 

The Mavericks continue their season on the road this Friday as they take on the MSU Moorhead Dragons. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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