SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The Minnesota State women's basketball team (21-6, 16-5 NSIC) squared off against the Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team (23-4, 19-2 NSIC) in a semifinal showdown at the Sanford Pentagon Monday evening. It was a hotly contested back and forth battle from start to finish but, the Bulldogs inched it out in the final seconds as the Mavericks fell 69-66.

Rylee Menster led the Mavericks in scoring as well as rebounds netting 17 and hauling in six rebounds for Minnesota State. The Mavericks had two other players reach double figures in the scoring column as Destinee Bursch and Joey Batt knocked down 15 and 14, respectively. Batt also dished out four assists, had three steals and went six of six from the free-throw line.

Minnesota State jumped out of the gates fast and began the game on a 7-0 run capped off by Menster's first bucket of the game. However, the Bulldogs were able to decipher the Mavericks pressure early and answered with a 10-2 run to take a one-point lead with just under four minutes remaining. Menster would stop the leaking as she hit two pull up jumpers on back-to-back positions to regain the lead. The Mavericks pressure began tightening up and made things difficult for Minnesota Duluth as they forced them into seven first quarter turnovers. The Mavericks trailed 17-15 after one.

Minnesota States offense in the second quarter struggled to find momentum as they shot 29.4% but, the Mavericks high energy and pressure on the defensive side of the ball held the Bulldogs in check. Bursch hit multiple shots in the biggest moments of the game as she knocked down a pull up jumper halfway through the second to pull the Mavericks within two. Minnesota Duluth ended the quarter on a 7-3 run and took their largest lead of the half, six, to the locker room with a score of 32-26.

It was a different story for the Mavericks in the third. Minnesota State came out of the break and shot 47.4% and helped the Mavericks gain ground on the tough Bulldog defense. Menster and Batt combined for nearly half of the Mavericks scoring in the third, as Minnesota State outscored Minnesota Duluth 21-15. Maddy Olson hit a floater down the middle of the lane with three seconds left to knot the score up at 47 heading to the fourth.

Minnesota Duluth found some more success in navigating the Mavericks defense to begin the fourth as they went on a 11-4 run. They held their largest lead of the game at seven but, the Mavericks weren't through. Bursch generated her own 9-2 run, once again getting even with the Bulldogs at 60 with just under five remaining. Minnesota State stayed within striking distance and used their timeouts strategically to advance the ball to half court but, time just ran out for the Mavericks. Minnesota State drops a tough one 69-66 to the Bulldogs.

As a team, Minnesota State went 27 of 71 from the floor shooting 38% and 23.1% from beyond the arc. The Mavericks were nine of 12 from the charity stripe for 75%. They dished out 13 assists, forced 24 turnovers and racked up 11 steals. The Bulldogs held the rebounding margin at 44-29.

The Mavericks now await the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show that is set to air on NCAA.com at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday Mar. 6 to see if they receive an at large bid for the NCAA tournament.

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