Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (18-5, 13-5 NSIC) got one step closer to a NSIC South Division title after defeating the Augustana University Vikings (12-9, 8-9 NSIC) Saturday afternoon at Taylor Center with a final score of 80-72.
The Mavericks offense saw three players eclipse the double-digit scoring mark with Taylor Theusch leading the way with 18-points. Joey Batt was dishing the assists out all game as she led the team with eight. Mikayla Nachazel led Minnesota State on the glass with 10 rebounds.
The Mavericks offense began the game quick with a Batt layup off the tip and an Olson three-ball on back-to-back possessions. The Vikings quickly settled and went on a 11-2 run to answer the Mavericks start. With Augustana leading 13-9 Emily Russo got a hard fought and one underneath the hoop and was good on the free-throw. On the next trip down to the offensive side of the court, Molly Ihle hit a right wing three-ball to give Minnesota State their first lead of the game at 15-13 with under four minutes remaining. Augustana however, finished the quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 21-17 lead into the break.
In the second, the pace became frantic as the Mavericks offense began the frame on a 9-2 run and took a three-point lead. The Vikings stayed determined through the Minnesota State pressure and were able to knot it up at 28 with just over four minutes left in the half. The Maverick three-point shooting created separation in the late stages as they shot 50% from downtown going 5-10 in the half. Ihle and Destinee Bursch both hit one in the final minutes, which guided the Mavericks to a 36-29 halftime lead.
In the third, the Mavericks began to take control of the contest as they would never concede the lead. After the Vikings cut the lead to two in the early goings of the quarter, the Mavericks answered with a 11-0 run opened the lead up to 52-39. It didn't stop there for Minnesota State as Maddy Olson knocked down a mid-range jumper to give the Mavericks their largest lead of the game at 15. Augustana would start to nip at the lead and got it down to nine at the end of the third.
The Vikings would continue to cut into the Mavericks and got it down to six just a minute in to the fourth. The Vikings got the lead down to six multiple times throughout the quarter but, Theusch's hot hand helped the Mavericks keep their distance. Minnesota State's pressure continued to wreak havoc on Augustana as they forced them into 24 turnovers and came away with 15 steals by the end of the game. The Mavericks sealed the deal with their free-throw shooting and defensive rebounding to earn the victory 80-72.
As a team, Minnesota State shot 45.1% from the field with a 10-25 mark from beyond the arc. The Vikings won the rebound battle with a margin of 46-40. The Mavericks dished out 17 assists compared to the Vikings eight. Minnesota State dominated in the paint scoring 38 of their 80-points in the lane.
Minnesota State returns to action Thursday Feb. 17 as they hit the road for the last time in regular season play to square-off against the Peacocks of Upper Iowa with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m., in Fayette, Iowa.
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