MOORHEAD, Minn. — Junior guard Morgan Banasik scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team to a 67-59 win over Wayne State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM improved to 16-4 overall and 13-4 in the NSIC with the win, while Wayne State fell to 13-9 overall and 10-7 in the league.

Banasik finished 7-of-14 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and also was a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line. Senior forward Heather Strese had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore guard Cassidy Thorson had 10 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Drew Sannes had a team-high four blocks while senior forward Savanna Handevidt had four steals.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight was the 12th consecutive time in which the Dragons have won their first home game in February. The last time the Dragons lost their first home game in February, was when Bemidji St. won 66-65 on Feb. 13, 2004.

MSUM shot 34.8 percent (23-of-66) compared to 36.2 percent (21-of-58) for the Wildcats. The Dragons had a 48-39 edge in rebounds and forced 20 Wildcat turnovers.

The Dragons led by as many as 10 in the third but Wayne State clawed its way back into the game in the fourth. The Wildcats took the lead at 59-58 after a pair of free throws with 2:16 left. Banasik drained a pair of free throws with 2:05 left to push the Dragons up 60-59.

After both teams missed shots, MSUM had a possession with just over a minute remaining. Banasik delivered the clutch three to put MSUM up four at 63-59 with 59 seconds left. MSUM then went 4-of-4 from the foul line in the final 36 seconds to ice the win. The Dragons ended the game on a 9-0 run over the final 2:05.

The Dragons led 27-22 at halftime, thanks to 11 first-half points from Banasik. The Dragons shot just 28.9 percent (11-of-38) in the first half, compared to 37 percent (10-of-27 for the Wildcats. The big difference was turnovers, as the Dragons committed just three while forcing 12.

A Strese layup put the Dragons up 38-28 with 4:18 left in the third, which was their largest lead of the night. The Wildcats cut the gap to 44-42 late in the third and from there the game was close throughout the fourth.

MSUM hosts Augustana in a crucial NSIC contest on Saturday at 4 p.m.