MANKATO, Minn. – The #22 Minnesota State Mavericks (22-5, 19-2 NSIC) dominated Minnesota Crookston (9-18, 6-15 NSIC), defeating the Golden Eagles 123-61. The Mavericks' 123 points broke a program record for points in a single game previously set by the 2008-09 team. Destinee Bursch and Joey Batt combined for 43 points, 11 assists and 11 steals against Minnesota Crookston.

The Mavericks got started early, going on a 6-0 run in the first thirty second of the opening quarter. Bursch assisted on each of those first three baskets for the Mavericks. Minnesota Crookston's Emma Miller hit a three-pointer to cut the MSU lead in half. Minnesota State then responded with an 8-1 run, where the team had four steals, providing excellent pressure on the Golden Eagle offense. UMC hit two shots, then the Mavericks ran away on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 23-8. Both teams traded baskets back and forth to wrap up the quarter. Minnesota State led after one 31-14.

Minnesota State opened the second quarter on fire, scoring 16 unanswered points in the first three minutes of the quarter. Bursch had seven points and Batt had five in that stretch. The Mavericks shot 7-9 from the field and had four steals, forcing five Golden Eagle turnovers. After that three minutes, Minnesota State led 47-14.

UMC responded with eight unanswered of their own. The two teams traded scores back and forth. Minnesota State led 56-23 heading into halftime.

The Mavericks shot 46% from the field in the first half, making two three-pointers and seven of their nine free throw attempts. Minnesota State pulled in six more rebounds in the first half, scoring eight second chance points on ten offensive boards. The Mavericks dished out 15 assists in the first 20 minutes. The team forced 19 turnovers, finishing the first half with 13 steals and scoring 14 points off turnovers.

Batt led the team in scoring in the first half. She had 13 points, three rebounds, four assists and five steals in the first two quarters. Bursch had 11 points and Bremer had nine. Ava Stier had six rebounds in the first half to lead the Mavericks.

Minnesota Crookston also shot a 46% field goal percentage, but the Golden Eagles shot 18 fewer shots than the Mavericks in the first. Miller led UMC in scoring with nine first half points.

Minnesota State came out of the locker room absolutely on fire; through the first three minutes of the third quarter, the Mavericks went on a 22-0 run where they shot 9-10 from the field and forced seven turnovers. Bursch scored 10 points in that stretch and Batt had five. With 7:08 left in the third quarter, Minnesota State led 75-26.

After a couple of layups for Minnesota Crookston, Emily Herzberg drained a three-pointer, leading to a 9-0 run for MSU, putting the Mavericks up 86-30 with five minutes to play in the quarter. The two teams scored buckets back and forth until the quarter ended with a score 98-43. Hannah Herzig nailed two threes in the final five minutes of the third quarter.

The final quarter started with a Herzberg jumper to put the Mavericks into triple digits. Hope Dudycha for the Golden Eagles hit a three with 6:48 left in regulation. Taylor Theusch hit a couple of jumpers, including a three which put the Mavericks up by 52. That three from Theusch sparked a 17-0 run for the Mavericks.

With 20 second remaining in the fourth, forward Delaynie Luneckas hit a turn-around jumper to give Minnesota State 123 points against UMC, breaking a program record for most points scored in a single game. The previous record was set in 2007-08 when Minnesota State beat Ohio Valley 122-72. The Mavericks would win the game 123-61.

The Mavericks shot 50-88 against UMC, finishing with a 57% field goal percentage, the second highest by Minnesota State this season. The Mavericks shot 8-23 from beyond the arc (35% 3pt) and 15-21 from the free throw line (71%). The team dominated the glass, outrebounding the Golden Eagles 44-29, scoring 17 second chance points on 18 offensive rebounds. MSU forced 38 turnovers against Minnesota Crookston, finishing with 26 steals and scoring 47 points off turnovers.

Bursch was the Mavericks' leading scorer against UMC, dropping 25 points, tying her season high. She shot 10-15 from the floor and finished with four assists and three steals. Batt scored 18 points in just 19 minutes. She shot 8-10 from the field and had three rebounds, dished out a team-high seven assists and had eight steals. Bremer ended with 15 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Herzig had 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Both Stier and Theusch scored 11 points against the Golden Eagles. Stier finished with seven rebounds.

Minnesota Crookston shot 48% from the field against the Mavericks. The Golden Eagles made four threes and shot just 5-13 from the charity stripe. The team passed out 20 assists. Nicole Hernandez led UMC in scoring, finishing with 10 points. Both Miller and Janie Tormanen ended with nine points.

Minnesota State is back in action tomorrow afternoon. The Mavericks take on the Bemidji State Beavers (6-19, 3-18 NSIC) at the Taylor Center at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. MSU has won nine of the last 10 games against the Beavers.