WINONA, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team led by six points with 4:36 left, but No. 9-ranked Winona State closed the game on 9-0 run to record a 52-49 win over the Dragons Sunday afternoon in Winona, Minn.

MSUM fell to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the loss while Winona State improved to 14-1 overall and 7-1 in the league.

Junior guard Morgan Banasik paced MSUM with 13 points, while sophomore guard Cassidy Thorson had 10 points. Senior forward Heather Strese had 10 rebounds while Thorson and senior forward Savanna Handevidt each led with two assists.

MSUM shot 35.6 percent (16-of-45) from the field for the game, compared to 35.1 percent (20-of-57) for Winona State. The Dragons had a slight 37-32 edge in rebounds. Winona had just 10 turnovers while MSUM had 17.

The game was close the whole way, with the biggest lead for either team being six points. The Dragons trailed 37-35 with 6:10 left in the third quarter but closed the frame on a 9-2 run to take a 44-39 lead into the final quarter. Banasik led the way with four points during that stretch.

A layup by Handevidt with 4:36 left gave MSUM a 49-43 lead, matching its largest of the game. But an untimely cold spell doomed MSUM as the Dragons would not score again. Winona State scored the final nine points of the game to take a 52-49 lead.

The Dragons had a chance to regain the lead in the final minute but missed a shot with eight seconds left. The Warriors hit two free throws to make it 52-49 with five seconds left, and MSUM had a possession to tie in the final seconds but turned the ball over.

The game was tied at 29-29 at halftime. Banasik scored nine first-half points to pace the Dragons.

Handevidt added nine rebounds for MSUM, while junior guard Natalie Van Wyhe had seven points and two steals.

The Dragons begin a four-game homestand on Friday against Mary. Tipoff is 6 p.m. at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Senior forward Heather Strese did not score a point and collected only two rebounds in her first two matchups vs. Winona State. Over the past three games including today, Strese has scored 57 points and has 30 rebounds (19.0/10.0 avg.) against the Warriors.