MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team cut a 15-point deficit to six in the second half, but the comeback came up short in a 73-62 loss to Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM, which saw a four-game winning streak end, fell to 11-9 overall and 10-6 in the NSIC with the defeat while Minnesota State improved to 14-6 overall and 11-4 in the league.

Junior guard Meghan Roehrich had 18 points to lead MSUM while freshman guard Mallie Doucette had a career-high 11 points off the bench. Redshirt freshman forward Drew Sannes had nine points, three blocks and seven rebounds off the bench while junior forward Heather Strese also added seven boards. Sophomore guard Natalie Van Wyhe had four assists.

MSUM shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59) for the game compared to 41.7 percent for the Mavericks (41.7 percent). The Dragons had a 39-35 edge in rebounds.

The Dragons faced a 57-42 deficit with 12:14 left in the game but went on a 10-1 run over the next three minutes to cut the lead to 58-52. Sannes scored five points during that run, including converting a three-point play, to spark the Dragon rally.

MSUM was within 67-60 with 1:39 left after a Sannes basket but got no closer, as the Mavericks scored the next six points to push the lead to 73-60 on their way to the 11-point win.

The Dragons took a 12-9 lead six minutes into the game, thanks to five points each from Roehrich and sophomore guard Morgan Banasik.  The Mavericks responded with an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 20-12 lead, and the Dragons never led again.  

MSU took a 36-29 lead into halftime. All 10 Dragon players who played in the first half scored at least two points, led by Banasik with seven. MSUM shot 36.7 percent (11-of-30) in the first half, compared to 48.4 percent (15-of-31) for the Mavericks.

The Dragons cut the lead to 36-34 two minutes into the second half after Roehrich buried a three, but the Mavericks responded with a 21-8 run to push the lead to 57-42 with 12:14 left.  That led to the Dragons' run which came up short.

Banasik added seven points and three assists for MSUM.

MSUM returns to the road next week, starting Friday at No. 23-ranked Wayne State. Game time is 6 p.m. in Wayne, Neb.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Morgan Banasik collected 70 rebounds in her freshman year where she played and started all 27 games, and 35 boards in her first 10 games this year (through Dec. 20) for a total of 105 rebounds in the first 37 games in her career for an average of 2.84 rpg. In her last 10 games (beginning Jan. 2 vs. Upper Iowa and including tonight), Banasik has claimed 71 rebounds for an average of 7.1 per game. She also has set her personal career high for rebounds in a game twice with 11 (Jan. 3 vs. Winona St. and Jan 17. at Southwest Minn. St.), and has registered two double-doubles (Jan. 17 at SMSU and last Saturday night vs. Bemidji St.).