Sheila Green Gerding didn't have the look of a coach whose team was well on its way to a 50-point victory.
Five minutes into the second half Sunday, the Minot State University women's basketball coach called a timeout after a couple of listless possessions by the Beavers.
"We're not playing any defense right now," Green Gerding told her team.
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Adam Lawson/MDN
Minot State University senior Francesca DeAngelis drives past a Brandon University defender during the Beavers’ 50-point win Sunday at the MSU Dome.
MSU picked up the effort, continued forcing turnovers and polished off Brandon University (Manitoba) 92-42 at the MSU Dome.
Brandon (0-11) coughed the ball up 39 times, often leading to run-outs and layups for the Beavers.
The outcome was never in doubt and the game didn't simulate the competitiveness of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest, but there are a few positives the Beavers can take from the thrashing.
Five MSU players scored in double figures - including senior Francesca DeAngelis, who put up 14 points after entering the game averaging 4.8 per contest. Green Gerding said the athletic guard showed flashes of improved play during the Beavers' losses at Bemidji State University and Minnesota, Crookston.
"If there was anything sparkling coming out of that Minnesota trip, it was that Franny actually started to play well, and now she's been pretty consistent for four games," Green Gerding said. "I think she's turned the corner and now she's playing up to the capabilities that we thought she would, and that's really important heading into this last couple of months of play."
The Beavers (6-3) never trailed and the game was tied just once - at 2-2 with 17 minutes, 2 seconds left in the opening half. A 14-0 run midway through the first half helped MSU stretch its lead beyond 20 points.
And the gap kept growing.
After a quiet first half, leading scorer Carly Boag scored the Beavers' first 10 points in the opening 2:32 of the second frame to stretch MSU's lead to 61-20.
Boag finished with a game-high 16 points, Sacarra Molina added 14 and Morgan Klose (12) and Sarah Lester (10) also reached double figures. MSU got a solid game from freshman point guard Amanda Sansaver, who finished with eight points, five assists and five steals.
"I finally hit my shots tonight," Sansaver said. "Coach got on me the last couple of weeks, and I've been working on my shooting all of Christmas break. When I hit the first couple, I think it helped me with my confidence so I was able to drain some more."
Green Gerding said the game was a good opportunity to get all her players minutes against unfamiliar competition. DeAngelis hopes a pair of nonconference wins over the holidays could get the Beavers back on track before another NSIC road trip this weekend.
"Mostly we just needed this win because we had a couple of rough losses in a row," DeAngelis said. "It was good to boost our confidence and get back on the road for next weekend."
The Beavers travel to Minnesota Duluth on Friday and St. Cloud State (Minn.) on Saturday.