MINOT, N.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team outscored Minot State 16-7 in overtime to secure an 81-72 win over the Beavers in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday night in Minot, N.D.

MSUM is now 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC while Minot State fell to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the league.

Junior guard Morgan Banasik had a career-high 24 points for MSUM; she was a career-best 12-of-12 from the foul line in the win.  Senior forward Savanna Handevidt had her third career double-double with a career-high 21 points and 11 rebounds. Senior forward Heather Strese had 15 points and eight rebounds, while freshman guard Jacky Volkert had a career-high eight assists.

MSUM shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58) for the game, compared to 39.4 percent (26-of-66) for Minot State.  MSUM had a 46-36 edge in rebounds but also committed 24 turnovers, compared to 21 for Minot State. The Dragons hit 25-of-33 free throws in the game compared to 15-of-21 for the Beavers.

The Dragons built their largest lead of the game, 55-42 with 9:43 left in regulation after a Handevidt basket.  Minot State scored eight points in a row to cut the lead to five, and eventually tied the game at 65-65 in the final 10 seconds on a basket by Kari Clements. MSUM had a shot to win with three seconds left but the shot wouldn't fall, sending the game to overtime.

MSUM held a 69-67 lead at the 3:19 mark of overtime but hit 5-of-6 free throws in the next 1:20 to build the lead to 74-67.  Minot State got no closer than six the rest of the game.

The first half saw MSUM take a 30-22 lead into halftime, thanks to 10 first-half points from Banasik. The Dragons led 53-42 going into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore forward Cassidy Thorson had four points, six rebounds and three assists for the Dragons.

The Dragons play at Mary for a 4 p.m. game Saturday in Bismarck, N.D.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: All 16 MSUM points in overtime were scored from the free throw line.