Bemidji, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University women's basketball team dropped the second game in a two-game nonconference series against the Bemidji State Beavers by a score of 82-76 in overtime. With the loss the Mavericks are now 1-1 on the season as are the Beavers.

In the opening quarter, Rachel Shumski immediately picked up where she left off after leading the Mavericks in scoring last night and made her first two shots of the game. The teams traded baskets the remainder of the quarter with the Tayla Stuttley scoring seven straight Minnesota State points, but a layup in the final 20 seconds from Bemidji State gave the Beavers a 16-13 lead going into the second quarter.

Bemidji State started the second with a quick 5-0 run before Minnesota State pushed back. A pair of back-to-back layups from Joey Batt on the fast break and a Stuttley three-pointer followed by a two-point jumper gave the Mavericks a 35-33 lead with 1:57 to go before half. The teams traded baskets in the final minutes and Minnesota State took a 40-38 lead into the halftime locker room.

As a team the Mavericks shot 44.4% from the field but continued to keep the defensive pressure up, forcing 18 Beaver turnovers in the first half. Stuttley finished the half with 12 points while Batt finished with nine.

Bemidji State opened up the third quarter with a 13-3 run to take an eight-point lead midway through the third. Minnesota State then rallied in the back half of the quarter with a 16-5 run of their own, taking a 59-56 lead into the fourth.

Neither team was able to create any true separation throughout the fourth and with the game tied 69-69 with 53 seconds to go, the Mavericks and Beavers both came up just short on go-ahead shots, sending the game to overtime.

Minnesota State took the early edge in overtime with a 5-2 run punctuated by a middle of the paint jumper from Shumski. Despite the early advantage, the Beavers were able to get opportunities at the free throw line, chipping into the Maverick lead before a pair of free throws gave them a 77-75 lead with 40 seconds to go. Minnesota State was then forced to attempt to foul and score quickly and despite some quality looks, couldn't capitalize which allowed Bemidji State to come away with the 82-76 win.

Batt led all scorers with a career high 26 points while adding six steals and three assists while Stuttley finished second in scoring with 13 points adding eight rebounds. As a team, the Mavericks forced 33 turnovers while committing 15 of their own but the game ultimately came down to the free throw line where the Beavers converted 31 of 43 opportunities compared to 15 of 33 for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks begin conference play next weekend with a two game road series against the Augustana Vikings. Friday night tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and Saturday will see the teams face off at 3:00 p.m.