MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team hit 14 three-pointers on its way to a 73-55 rout of Minot State on Saturday night in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM improved to 10-3 overall and 7-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the win, while Minot State fell to 7-9 overall and 4-6 in the league.

The Dragons hit 14-of-29 (48.3 percent) three-pointers on the night, just one away from the school record of 15 set against Bemidji State on Jan. 24, 2015. Sophomore Cassidy Thorson hit 5-of-10 threes on her way to a career-high 19 points for MSUM while junior guard Morgan Banasik hit four 3-pointers on her way to 18 points.  Senior forward Heather Strese and sophomore forward Drew Sannes each had nine points for MSUM. Junior guard Natalie Van Wyhe had a solid all-around game with six points, six rebounds and six assists.

MSUM shot 50 percent (28-of-56) for the game while holding Minot State to 38.9 percent (21-of-54). MSUM had a 36-29 edge in rebounds.

The Dragons trailed 7-3 three minutes into the game but went on a 13-0 run to take a 16-7 lead — one they never relinquished the rest of the night  Banasik hit a pair of threes during that run while Thorson had five points. MSUM pushed the lead to double digits in the second quarter and took a 36-27 lead into halftime, thanks to 10 points from Banasik.

Minot State cut the lead to 36-32 a half minute into the second half, but the Dragons answered with eight points in a row to push the lead to 44-32 with 4:43 left.  Strese had four points during that run for the Dragons. With less than a minute left, a Thorson three extended the lead to 56-40.

MSUM led by as many as 20 in the fourth quarter on its way to a second straight double-digit win.

Senior forward Savanna Handevidt had seven points, five rebounds and four assists for the Dragons. Junior guard Jessica Hart had five points and five rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.

MSUM continues the four-game homestand on Friday, Jan. 15 at home against Sioux Falls. Game time is 6 p.m. at Nemzek Fieldhouse
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game:  Natalie Van Wyhe scored six points at Upper Iowa last Saturday, seven at Winona St. last Sunday, 10 last night versus Mary and six tonight to total 29. The most she has ever scored during a four-game stretch as a Dragon was when she totaled 33. Van Wyhe scored a career-high 16 at Minnesota Crookston last year on Feb. 21, four in the home playoff win against Upper Iowa, four in the quarterfinal playoff win versus Winona St., and nine against Wayne St. in the NSIC semifinals.