BILLINGS, Mont. – Minnesota State women's basketball (2-1) defeated the Javelinas from Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-3), 76-65 Sunday at Alterowitz Gymnasium. Destinee Bursch posted 21 points to lead all scorers.

Minnesota State started on a 6-0 run. Jayde Tschritter later hit three triples to give Texas A&M – Kingsville the lead, 17-14. The teams traded the lead until the end of the quarter, with the Mavericks outscoring the Javelinas 25-20.

Bursch led the Mavericks in scoring with nine points on 4-4 shooting from the floor in the first quarter. Emily Herzberg had eight points of her own, six of which came from beyond the three-point line, along with two rebounds and two assists. The Javelinas had a great quarter shooting, starting 7-11 from the field and 6-9 from deep. Minnesota State shot 11-22 in the first quarter and were 3-7 from three-point range.

An early offensive rebound and score by Bursch extended the Maverick lead early in the second quarter, 29-20. The Mavericks dominated the paint in the second period, scoring 26 points down low with 12 second-chance points. Minnesota State went into halftime with a 14-point lead, up 46-32. At halftime, Bursch and Herzberg each had 13 points to lead the Mavericks. Hannah Herzig had four steals in the first half and Mackenzie Schweim had two.

For the Javelinas, Tschritter led all scorers going into halftime with 15, all of which came from her five three-point makes in the first half.
Bursch started out the second half with two fastbreak layups to extend the Minnesota State lead 50-35. Then the scoring went quiet, as neither team scored for nearly three minutes. The Mavericks eventually found some offense with buckets from Grace Mueller, Schweim and Herzig to extend the lead to 17. The third quarter ended with Minnesota State ahead 61-46.

The final quarter started with a layup and a 3-point play by Natalie Bremer. Texas A&M – Kingsville fought back, cutting the lead to single digits with a layup by Shelby Ray. It was little-too-late for the Javelinas, as Minnesota State had two three-pointers sunk by Mueller and Bailey Conrad to extend the lead back to 14. Minnesota State finished it off 76-65.

Bursch ended with 21 points on 10-15 shooting. She also had five rebounds, two assists and a steal. Herzig finished with five points, five steals and four steals, both team-highs. Mueller and Schweim both posted six points.

The Mavericks eliminated Tschritter's scoring in the second half, as she finished the game with 15 points on 5-10 shooting from three. Mia Rivers had 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Ray ended with 14 points and six rebounds.

Overall, Minnesota State shot 42%-percent from the floor and 27-percent from three. The Mavericks controlled the pace of the game with 16 fast break points and 27 points off turnovers. MSU also had 19 offensive rebounds, resulting in 23 second-chance points and 42 points in the paint.

"We're excited to be leaving Mont. with two great wins," said Mavericks head coach Emilee Thiesse. "We were able to learn and grow a lot this weekend and are eager to get back to work this week as we prepare for two challenging regional games ahead!"

Minnesota State women's basketball is back on the road next weekend for the Regional Crossover Challenge in St. Joseph, Mo. to take on Southern Nazarene on Friday, Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m. and Fort Hays State on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 2:45 p.m. Neither Southern Nazarene nor Fort Hays State will have played a game before the tournament next weekend.

Destinee Bursch and Natalie Bremer both made the DII CCA Tip Off Classic At The Trailhead All-Tournament Team. Bursh averaged 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 47% shooting. Bremer averaged 14.6 points per game, along with two steals and 4.7 rebounds in Billings.