BILLINGS, Mont. – The No. 2 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks women's basketball team (1-0) defeated the Florida Tech Panthers (0-1) in its first game of the 2023-24 season 83-44 Friday night at Alterowitz Gymnasium. The Mavericks were led by sophomore Natalie Bremer, who led all scorers with 15 points.
The Mavericks started the game off hot, as Emily Russo scored a layup in the first four seconds of the first quarter. Minnesota State started on a 12-0 run, including a top of key three pointer from Emily Herzberg. However, both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket in the first quarter, as they combined to go 10-32 from the field.
The second quarter saw Minnesota State find its rhythm on the court. The Mavericks finished the half on a 15-0 run to put themselves ahead 38-17 at halftime. Herzberg and Bremer each had three steals to add to a team total of 13 in the first half. Destinee Bursch tallied eight points. Minnesota State shot 41.7% from the field through 30 minutes and the Mavericks were able to hold Florida Tech to just 17 first half points.
The Mavericks began the second half with a hot hand, shooting 50-percent in the third quarter. However, is was also Florida Tech's best quarter, as they shot 53-percent and posted 16 points. By the end of the quarter, the Mavericks still held a comfortable lead 57-33.
The final quarter was the highest scoring by the Mavericks, as they wracked up 26 points on 73-percent shooting from the field, including 50-percent from three-point range. Minnesota State finished its season opener with an 83-44 victory.
Bremer was the leading scorer for Minnesota State, who ended with 15 points on 7-11 shooting, with three rebounds, three steals and two assists. Herzberg and Bursch each finished with 13 points. Herzberg also brought in five rebounds and had four steals. Bursch marked two steals and a game-high seven assists.
Mackenzie Schweim had eight points and four steals while Grace Mueller assembled eight points, three rebounds and three assists. Russo led the Mavericks on the glass with nine rebounds.
Minnesota State shot 50.7-percent against Florida Tech, getting buckets in a variety of different ways. The Mavericks forced 34 turnovers, including 21 steals, and scored 35 points off turnovers against the Panthers. MSU also had 46 points in the paint, 13 second chance points and 28 points off the bench.
Florida Tech finished 10-for-61 from the field (31.1-percent) and committed 34 turnovers. Lina Stranger-Johannessen led the Panthers with 12 points and a pair of steals.
"We were very pleased with the team's energy and in-game adjustments," said Mavericks head coach Emilee Thiesse. "We were able to switch things up throughout the game and lean on our depth and balanced scoring attack to pull away."
The Mavericks return to action tomorrow afternoon, Saturday Nov. 4 at 1:15 p.m. to take on the Pioneers of Texas Woman's University (0-0). The Pioneers were ranked No. 24 in the preseason NCAA Division II WBCA poll.
