Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team 12-4 (8-4 NSIC) traveled to Minot, N.D., to begin their North Dakota round swing against the Minot Sate women's basketball team 7-10 (5-5 NSIC) Friday evening. The Mavericks fell to the Beavers with a final score of 81-71.
The Mavericks saw three players reach the double-digit scoring mark with Maddy Olson and Destinee Bursch both leading the way with 18. Rylee Menster led the team on the glass with six rebounds and contributed eight points in her effort.
The Mavericks wasted no time getting started as they won the tip and Olson knocked down one of her three three-balls just 12 seconds in. This started a back-and-forth affair between the teams in the first part of the opening frame, as the Beavers held a 10-9 lead into the first media break. Both offenses couldn't find any rhythm and the teams went to the quarter break with the Beavers leading 16-15. The Mavericks offense was stagnant in the second as they only mustered up 11 points in the quarter. The Beavers found success in breaking the Mavericks pressure and outscored the Maverick 20-11. The Mavericks trailed the Beavers 36-26 at the half.
To begin the third, the Mavericks got within seven after another Olson three-ball. The Beavers however, seemed to have an answer for every Maverick charge. The Beavers outscored the Mavericks 14-10 down the stretch and took a 60-49 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Beavers started the fourth quickly as they began the frame with an 8-2 run and pushed the lead to 17. After an Molly Ihle three ball during a Mavericks 12-3 run that saw them get within eight at the final media break. The Mavericks couldn't complete the comeback as the Beaver offense remained potent. The Mavericks fell to the Beavers 81-71
As a team, the Mavericks shot 24-66 from the field for 36.4% and 9-32 from beyond the arc for 28.1%. At the charity stripe the Mavericks were 14-22 for 63.6%. The Beavers out rebounded the Mavericks 58-34 in the contest.
The Mavericks hit the floor Saturday afternoon as they wrap-up the weekend road trip at UMary against the Marauders with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m.
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