MANKATO, Minn. – A stellar defensive effort propelled the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team to a 65-50 win over Minnesota State, Mankato in action Saturday in Mankato, Minn.
MSUM improved to 15-4 overall and 12-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Dragons are now tied with Northern State for first in the NSIC North. MSU fell to 6-14 overall and 5-11 in the league.
The Dragons held MSU to just 29 percent shooting (18-of-62) from the field in the game and forced 13 turnovers. The Mavericks were held to just 4-of-20 three-point shooting.
MSUM shot 35.4 percent (23-of-65). The Dragons' big advantage was on the glass, where they had a 51-40 edge in rebounds, including a 15-10 margin in offensive rebounds.
Three Dragons scored in double figures, led by junior guard
Morgan Banasik with 15 points. Sophomore forward
Cassidy Thorson had 12 points while senior forward
Heather Strese had 11 points and eight rebounds. Senior forward
Savanna Handevidt had eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Thorson and junior guard
Natalie Van Wyhe led with three assists each.
Notes:
--The 15-4 mark is MSUM's best start since 2008-09. That team started 17-4.
--With the two wins this weekend MSUM has clinched its 16th straight winning season under Head Coach Karla Nelson.
--MSUM is tied for first in the NSIC North Division with Northern State. Both teams lead St. Cloud State and Minnesota Crookston by one game.
--Four Dragons averaged in double figures for the weekend: Strese (14.0), Banasik (13.5), Thorson (12.0) and Handevidt (11.0).
--Weekend was MSUM's second NSIC road sweep of the season.
For the second straight game, a fast start ignited the Dragons, who never trailed in the game. MSUM outscored the Mavericks 19-4 in the first 8:16 of the game and never saw the lead drop below double digits the rest of the way. The opening surge was led by Handevidt and Van Wyhe with six points each while Strese had five.
Handevidt had eight points in the first half to help MSUM to a 35-21 halftime lead. Banasik added seven. The Dragons led by as many as 20 in the second half on their way to the win.
Freshman guard
Jacky Volkert had nine points for MSUM off the bench.
MSUM returns home to face Wayne State on Friday at 6 p.m.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight ended the Dragons' seven-game losing streak to Minnesota State, Mankato. Prior to tonight, the last Dragons win over the Mavericks was an 82-74 triumph on Jan. 3, 2010 in Moorhead. It was also the first win over the Mavericks in Mankato since their 77-55 victory on Nov. 22, 2006.
