MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State University out-scored the University of Minnesota Crookston 30-14 in the second quarter as they upended the Golden Eagles 89-68 at the Taylor Center Fri., Feb. 7. The Golden Eagles were able to trim the gap by winning the fourth quarter 23-17, but it was not enough to earn the win on the road against their NSIC South foe.

Minnesota State improves to 12-9 (9-8 NSIC) with Friday's win. Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-17 (3-14 NSIC) with the loss. The Mavericks have won the last four tilts in the series.

The Golden Eagles were led on the night by the play of Mary Burke (R-Fr., F, Virginia, Minn.) with 13 points on 5-of-8 from the field. Mattea Vetsch (Fr., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) added 12 points, including going 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. Julia Peplinski (So., F/C, Hustisford, Wis.) added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Bren Fox (So., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.) chipped in six points and nine rebounds.

Minnesota Crookston shot 25-of-57 from the field for 43.9 percent. The Golden Eagles were 7-of-21 from distance for 33.3 percent. Minnesota Crookston was strong from the line, as they went 11-of-13 for 84.6 percent.

The Golden Eagles struggled hanging on to the basketball on Friday night, as they had 21 turnovers. In addition the Mavericks dominated the glass 42-27 with 17 offensive rebounds, as they finished the night with 13 second-chance points to go with 25 points off turnovers.

Minnesota State was led by the play in the post of Kristi Fett with 18 points on 8-of-12 from the field. Rachel Shumski came off the bench for 14 points on 7-of-8 from the field, while Joey Batt added 11 points.

The Mavericks had a strong shooting night, going 39-of-74 for 52.7 percent. 60 of their points on the night came in the paint. Minnesota State took just 13 three-point shots on the evening, hitting four of them for 30.8 percent on the night. The Mavericks were 7-of-8 from the stripe for 87.5 percent.

Minnesota State held an early 7-5 lead after a bucket from Fett. The Golden Eagles evened the tally 7-7 after a basket from Emma Carpenter (Fr., G, Eagan, Minn.). The Mavericks used an 8-3 run to take a 13-10 advantage following a Batt bucket.

Minnesota Crookston responded on the other end as Burke put in a pair to trim the lead to 13-12 mid-way through the first quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Shumski for Minnesota State extended the advantage to 17-12 in favor of the Mavericks.

The Golden Eagles came right back with a 4-0 run of their own as Alyssa Peterson (Fr., G, Menahga, Minn.) picked up a pair, followed by two from Fox at the charity stripe. The run cut the deficit to 17-16 with 2:09 remaining in the first stanza. The Mavericks closed the first quarter out with a Rylee Menster three-pointer to go into the quarter break up 20-16.

Minnesota State built off their momentum as they opened the second quarter with an old-fashioned three-point play from Batt to widen the gap to 23-16. Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to four at 23-19 as Vetsch drained a triple. The Golden Eagles would continue to slice into the lead as a pair of free throws from Fox pulled Minnesota Crookston within two at 25-23 with 7:38 remaining in the second stanza.

However, Minnesota State took over from there as they went on a 15-0 run as a Kirstin Klitzke bucket pushed the advantage out 40-23. Minnesota Crookston ended a four-minute scoring drought with a jumper from Kylie Post (So., G, Corcoran, Minn.) to trim the deficit to 40-25. The Mavericks would push the lead out to 20 going into the locker room as a Mikayla Nachaezel bucket pushed the lead out to 50-30.

Minnesota State wouldn't let the Golden Eagles make up much ground in the third quarter as the closest they got was 20 points. The Mavericks went into the break up 72-45.

Minnesota State pushed the lead to 33 points at 83-50 following a Fett basket off a Menster assist. The Golden Eagles responded utilizing a 6-0 run spearheaded by an unconventional four-point play from Vetsch to slice the lead to 83-56.

Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to 89-68 with their final bucket of the game, but the 21-deficit would be enough to do the Golden Eagles in, as the Mavericks came away with the win.

Minnesota Crookston continues their road excursion Sat., Feb. 8 against Concordia-St. Paul at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn.