SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- #11 Minnesota State picked up its 10th straight win Saturday evening as the Mavericks defeated the University of Mary 81-66 in the second round of the NSIC Tournament.

With the win, MSU improves to 24-3. With the loss, UMary ends its season with a 14-13 record.

Halfway through the first quarter the Mavericks and Marauders were tied 8-8. Both teams would then put together 4-0 runs as they were tied at 12-12 with 4:17 remaining in the quarter. The lead would change hands two more times in the first quarter as UMary led 21-20 after the first 10 minutes. Junior Joey Batt notched four points and three assists for the Mavericks in the first quarter.

Neither team led by more than four points in the early going of the second quarter. UMary went up 29-25 with 6:57 left in the half, but the Mavericks would answer right back to tie the score at 31-31 with 5:11 to go in the second quarter. MSU would outscore the Marauders 7-4 in the final 4:14 of the half as the Mavericks took a 38-35 lead into the locker room.

Freshman Natalie Bremer led all scorers in the first half with 16 points as she connected on 8-of-11 shots from the field. As a team, MSU shot 38.9% from the field in the first half.
Reese Wishart led the Marauders in the first half with eight points. As a unit, UMary shot 39.4% from the field.

The Mavericks opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run to take a 47-37 lead with 6:20 remaining in the quarter. Sophomore Destinee Bursch scored all nine of MSU's points during that stretch. The Mavericks would hold their double-digit lead through the rest of the quarter as they led 58-46 by the end of the third stanza.

The fourth quarter saw UMary put together an 18-12 run to cut MSU's lead to six at 70-64 with 3:36 to go in the game. The Mavericks would respond with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to go back up by 15 at 79-64 with :49 to go. MSU would go on to secure the 81-66 win.

Bremer finished with a career-high 30 points as she connected on 13-of-17 shots from the field. Bursch posted 17 points as well, while Batt finished with 10 points. Freshman Ava Stier hauled in eight rebounds also.

As a team, MSU shot 42.3% from the field. The Mavericks also passed out 16 assists and forced 24 UMary turnovers.

Megan Voit led the Marauders with 18 points, while Megan Zander tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds.

As a team, UMary shot 36.8% from the field. The Marauders also hauled in 48 rebounds.

Minnesota State will take on the winner of the game between St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State on Monday in the third round of the NSIC Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.