MANKATO, Minn. (Taylor Center) - Minnesota State University showed exactly why they are undefeated and ranked No. 25 in this week’s WBCA poll defeating Bemidji State University 101-74 Tuesday at MSU’s Taylor Center.

The Mavericks’ Alex Andrews scored a jumper just 12 seconds into the game, setting the tone for the night as MSU would never trail or share the lead from that point on and Andrews would go on to be one of four Maverick players to reach double figures as she was a force in the paint netting 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds to lead the Mavericks on the glass.

The Mavericks started the game on a 8-0 run and was able to push their lead to nine points (11-2) just 2:11 second into the game.  The Beavers were able to reel the Mavericks in to as close as four points on a three point basket by Kristina Salscheider (Jr., G, Cass Lake, Minn.) but could never get the momentum to get any closer in the half.

The Mavericks continued to stay hot as they went on a 43-29 run to close out the half and take a 17-point lead (53-36) into the halftime break. The 53 points scored by the Mavericks was the most points the Beavers have given up in a half this season.  MSU shot a .541 (20-37) from the field to help them extend its lead over the Beavers in the first half while the Beavers shot just .378 (14-37) from the field in the half.

The second half was a horse race. Although BSU scored 38 points during the final 20 minutes, they lost ground to the Mavericks as the home team went on to net 48 second half points to power past the century mark.

MSU outscored the Beavers 36 to 26 in the paint while out rebounding the Beavers 43 to 37.  The biggest stat of the game was points off turnovers.  The Mavericks more than tripled BSU’s total of eight points off turnovers as they netted 25 points off of Beaver mistakes.  BSU committed 22 turnovers to just 14 for the Mavericks.

Sophomore Kirsten Hengstler (Andover, Minn.) paced BSU tying a career-high with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from three point range.  Two other Beavers collected double-figure scoring as Amy Lawson (Sr., G, Spencer, Iowa) and Heidi Matzke (Jr., G, Red Lake Falls, Minn.) each had 12 points.  Matzke hauled in a career-high nine rebounds to lead the Beavers on the glass.

Heather Johnson led four Maverick players who reached double-figures.  Johnson had a game-high 20 points in just 22 minutes of play. Andrews netted 17 points and led MSU on the glass with nine boards while Joanne Noreen added 16 points and Anna Voltmer chipped in 12 points to round out the double-figure scoring efforts for the Mavericks.

The loss drops BSU to 4-5 overall and 2-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  With the loss the Beavers are currently on a season long three-game losing skid and it is the first time a team as scored 100 points or more versus the Beavers since March 2, 2005 when Concordia-St. Paul netted 102 points versus the Beavers.

The loss also drops BSU to 10-18 all-time versus the Mavericks.

The Beavers are back in action again this weekend when they return home to host the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Sunday, Dec. 16 from the BSU Gymnasium.  Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).