MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State (12-23-0, 6-22-0 WCHA) fell to the Tommies (10-24-1, 4-23-1 WCHA) by a final of 5-4 in overtime suffering on Saturday afternoon at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.  

Both teams landed punches early seeing goals just over two minutes apart in the opening period. The Mavericks found the back of the net first at the 7:35 mark of the opening period when senior Kennedy Bobyck delivered a fantastic pass to junior Alexis Paddington who hammered home her third tally of the season. With her 48th career assist on the play, Bobyck leaped Kristina Bunker (2004-08) on the MSU all-time assist chart now holding seventh on the list.  

After heading into the first intermission tied at one, the Mavericks were able to capitalize on a UST passing miscue setting up a two-on-one for junior Madison Mashuga and senior Jamie Nelson. Nelson sent a pass to Mashuga who then passed back to Nelson tucking home her team-leading 18th goal on the season giving MSU a one-goal advantage.

UST would collect two in the final four minutes of the second period claiming its first lead of the day.

Junior Alexis Paddington would net her second tally on the game at the 11:16 mark tying the game at three. On the play, freshman JuliAnna Gazdik collected her tenth assist of the season.

After going down 4-3 late in the final period, The Mavericks capitalized on a six-on-four opportunity after UST received a tripping minor in addition to head coach John Harrington pulling goal Hailey Hansen in the final minute of regulation. Senior Charlotte Akervik ripped a shot from the blueline pinballing into the back of the net forcing an overtime period.

The Mavericks would drop its final game of the regular season just 36 seconds into the overtime period by a final of 5-4.

"Really proud of our effort in that third period as we clawed back to get the game into overtime," stated Harrington. " It's exciting to see production from our third and fourth lines consistently and looking forward to carrying these efforts into the WCHA playoffs."

Minnesota State will head to Ridder Arena on Friday to take on the Gophers in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.