Sioux Falls, S.D. --- The Minnesota State University women's basketball team fell to the St. Cloud State Huskies 70-68 in the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament. With the loss the Mavericks fall to 9-6 while the Huskies improve to 10-5. The loss ends Minnesota State's 2020-21 season.

Minnesota State forced the pace of play to fit its up-tempo style in the early going as Rachel Shumski and Joey Batt combined for 10 of the teams 12-points. After a turnover at mid-court, Brooke Tonsfeldt found Maddy Olson in the right corner for a three-pointer that gave the Mavericks a 17-8 lead forcing the Huskies to take a timeout. St. Cloud State put together a 9-2 run to end the first quarter, cutting the Minnesota State lead to 19-17.

The Mavericks turned the tables immediately to start the second as they went on a 9-0 run sparked by a pair of beautiful passes from Shea Fuller as she found Tayla Stuttley for a three and Mikayla Nachazel for a transition layup.  Minnesota State finished the second quarter with a 20-7 scoring advantage to take a 39-24 lead into the half.

Stuttley finished the half with a game high 11-points and five boards while Shumski finished the half with nine points.

As a team, the Mavericks shot 42.9% from the field compared to 24.1% and recorded eight assists on 15 made field goals.

Minnesota State struggle to score in the early going of the second half but a three-pointer from Rylee Menster maintained a 44-33 lead with 5:08 to go in the third. The Mavericks continued to stave off runs from the Huskies, and after a three-pointer from Fuller, took a 54-43 lead into the fourth.

The Huskies opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run to cut the Maverick lead to four with 7:33 to go. Minnesota State fended off St. Cloud State until the Huskies converted a jumper with 2:43 to go that tied the game. With just over a minute to go, Stuttley tied the game up at 68-68 with a jumper but the Mavericks weren't able to capitalize on a turnover before the Huskies hit the game-winning layup with 17-seconds to go.

Stuttley finished the game with a team high 17-points to go along with six assists and six rebounds. Shumski finished with 13-points and six boards while Nachazel finished the game with 10-points and five boards.

Both teams finished the game shooting 40% from the field but the Huskies held the rebounding edge 45-31. Minnesota State did finish the game with a 17-12 assists advantage and recorded 22 bench points compared to five for St. Cloud State.

The Mavericks season ends with a 9-6 record after making the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament for the second consecutive season.