Mankato, Minn. – After a strong first half, the Northern State women's basketball team was unable to keep pace with Minnesota State in the third quarter and dropped a 85-76 game on Saturday afternoon. The game closed the cross-divisional portion of the NSIC schedule with the Wolves going 4-3 against NSIC South competition.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 76, MSU 85
Records: NSU 10-10 (7-8 NSIC), MSU 15-4 (11-4 NSIC)
Attendance: 698
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both teams started shooting lights out to start the game, with Northern State taking a 15-13 lead into the first media timeout while shooting the ball 7-10 from the field, compared to Minnesota State's 6-11 shooting from the field
• Thanks to eight offensive rebounds, the Wolves scored six second chance points enroute to a 25-23 lead after the first quarter
• The Wolves held the Mavericks scoreless for over six minutes of game time, stretching till the 4:24 mark in the second quarter; MSU's first field goal in the period did not come until the 2:45 mark in the period
• Northern pushed their lead to as many as seven points in the first half; however, an 8-0 scoring run by Minnesota State at the end of the half gave the Mavericks a 37-36 lead at the break
• After having the game tied at 44 midway through the third quarter, MSU used an 11-0 run to jump out to 55-44 lead
• Northern State began to claw back into the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run of their own, cutting the lead back to 67-56
• Rianna Fillipi knocked down a career high six 3-pointers, with five of them coming in the fourth quarter while trying to rally a comeback
• Abbey Holmes set a career high with 10 points and tied a career high with six rebounds, Carly Mekash tied a career high with nine points and set a new career high with seven rebounds, and Laurie Rogers dished out a career high six assists
• The Wolves shot 48.3 percent from the field, 55.6 percent from 3-point range, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line
• Northern State out-rebound Minnesota State 45-35 in the game

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Rianna Fillipi: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 6-9 3-pointers
Haley Johnson: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
Kailee Oliverson: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks
 
UP NEXT
The Northern State women's basketball team will return to NSIC North Division play next weekend, when they travel to face division leaders St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. The Wolves and Huskies are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off on Friday night, and the Wolves and Bulldogs are set for a 3:30 p.m. tip-off on Saturday afternoon.