MOORHEAD, Minn. — A strong effort on the defensive end propelled the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team to a thrilling 53-52 win over the University of Sioux Falls in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday night in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM improved to 11-3 overall and 8-3 in the NSIC with the win, while USF fell to 13-4 overall and 7-4 in the league.

Sophomore guard Cassidy Thorson led MSUM with 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Junior guard Morgan Banasik had 10 points, three assists and four rebounds while senior forward Savanna Handevidt had nine points and six rebounds. Junior guard Natalie Van Wyhe had five assists, a game-high, for the Dragons.

MSUM shot 35.6 percent (21-of-59), compared to 36.2 percent (21-of-58) for the Cougars. The Dragons held USF to 22 points less than their season average (74.2 entering the game).

MSUM had a 46-36 edge in rebounds, including 13-5 on the offensive glass, which led to a 13-2 edge in second-chance points.

In a game with 14 lead changes, it was the Dragon defense that delivered big in the final minutes. Alison Klostergaard buried a three for USF with 3:10 left to give the Cougars a 52-49 lead.

The Cougars would not score again, as the Dragons recorded three stops on the Cougars' final three possessions.

In the meantime, senior forward Heather Strese hit a jumper with 2:15 left to cut the USF lead to one (52-51), and moments later, Banasik scored what proved to be the game-winning shot with 1:35 left to make it 53-52.

The Cougars had two possessions in the final 1:16, including one in the final seconds, to regain the lead, but MSUM got defensive stops on both possessions to secure the win.

The Dragons took a 29-23 lead into halftime, thanks to nine first-half points from Handevidt.  MSUM led 41-35 in the third before the Cougars went on a 7-0 run to close the quarter to take a 42-41 lead heading into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was close the whole way, with three points being the biggest lead for either team.

Sophomore forward Drew Sannes had seven points and six rebounds for MSUM

MSUM hosts Southwest Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Saturday

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight marks the first time that the Dragons have been 11-3 since the 2009-10 squad that finished 18-10.