Sioux Falls, S.D. – #22 Minnesota State women's basketball (19-4, 16-1 NSIC) defeated the Sioux Falls Cougars (7-13, 5-11 NSIC) Saturday evening, 82-55. The Mavericks extend their winning streak to 17 games, tying the longest in program history. The last time MSU won 17-straight was the 2008-09 National Championship winning Mavericks squad.
 
Tonight, sophomore Natalie Bremer continued her excellent stretch of play, scoring 20 points for the sixth time this season.
 
The Cougars got the scoring started in the game, with a three-pointer from Danielle Minsaas. The Mavericks would respond with two layups to put MSU up 4-3. Bremer made an and-one layup to put the Mavericks up 9-5. After the two teams traded a pair of scores, Sioux Falls went on a 10-0 run, in which the Cougars scored two three-pointers, to roar past the Mavericks, taking a 17-11 lead. Ayla Brown for USF and Bremer traded threes in the final minute of the quarter. The Cougars headed into the second with a 20-16 lead over Minnesota State.
 
Minnesota State opened the second quarter on a 10-0 tear, taking a 26-20 lead over the Cougars. Both Bremer and Ava Stier had four points and the team had four steals in that stretch. USF responded with a three from Madison Wuebben. Herzberg hit a three for her first basket of the game, but Sioux Falls answered with a three of its own, keeping the Maverick lead to 31-28. Stier made an and-one layup to put MSU up eight with three minutes left in the half. With just under a minute to play in the quarter, Minsaas made her third three of the game, bringing deficit to just two. Kami Wadsworth made a layup as time expired, giving the Mavericks a 40-35 lead heading into the locker room for halftime.
 
The Mavericks shot 46% in the first half, making two of its seven three-point attempts and all four of its free throws. MSU had eight offensive rebounds in the first half and scored 12 points on second chances. The Mavericks forced 12 Cougar turnovers in the first half, including nine steals, and scored 15 points off turnovers.
 
Bremer was the leading scorer in the game heading into half; she had 12 points on 4-7 shooting and had two rebounds in the first. Hannah Herzig had eight points in the first half, along with four assists and two steals. Stier scored seven in the first half and led the team with five rebounds.
 
USF made half of its field goals in the first half. The Cougars shot a fantastic 7-13 from beyond the arc in the first half. The team had 12 assists in the first half. Sioux Falls scored 11 points off turnovers in the first half and forced eight turnovers. Minsaas led the Cougars in first half scores, heading into half with 11 points on 3-4 shooting from deep.
 
The Mavericks opened the second half on a quick 6-2 run thanks to a couple of scores from Destinee Bursch and Herzig. Minnesota State took an 11-point lead on a Bremer layup. The Cougars answered with a 9-3 run that cut the Maverick lead to five, 53-48. MSU added six points to its total before the third quarter ended, 59-48.
 
Through the first four minutes of the final quarter, the Mavericks went on another crucial run, this time 11-1, to solidify their lead, 70-49. It that stretch, Bursch scored five points in this stretch, Bremer had four. Minsaas responded with a three-point make to make the score 70-52 with five and a half remaining. The Mavericks closed out the game, winning by a score of 82-55.
 
Minnesota State finished with a 44% field goal percentage (33-75 FG), shooting 26% from beyond the arc and 79% from the free throw line. The Mavericks dominated the boards, 40-27, and had 17 offensive rebounds which led to a total of 18 second chance points. MSU also forced 28 Cougar turnovers, including 20 steals. The Mavericks scored 32 points off turnovers and 48 points in the paint.
 
The Mavericks finished with four players in double digits. Bremer scored a game-high 20 points and had five rebounds and two steals. Herzig finished with 16 points for MSU, also contributing six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Bursch dropped 15 points and three steals against USF. Stier ended with eight points, 11 rebounds, one block and three steals.
 
Sioux Falls shot 42% from the field against Minnesota State. The team shot 39% from three and made just two of its eight free throw attempts. The Cougars shot just 2-13 in the fourth quarter. Minsaas led USF with 14 points. She also had seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.
 
"I'm so proud of this group and our response tonight," said MSU head coach Emilee Thiesse. "We didn't have a great start defensively and had to mix things up a bit to get our momentum back. The second half was much more consistent. Although we were a little shorthanded tonight, we played gritty and found a way to get a big road win."
 
The Mavericks are back at home next weekend to take on Wayne State (5-14, 2-14 NSIC) and Augustana (6-14, 5-11 NSIC) with the chance to break the longest win streak in program history. MSU plays the Wildcats on Friday, Feb. 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Taylor Center and the Vikings on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 3:30 p.m. Minnesota State has won six straight games against both Wayne State and Augustana.