MSU Athletics Minot State’s Lorelei McIver (22) attacks the basketball while Valley City State’s Adriana Torres (20) defends during their game Tuesday in the MSU Dome.

The Minot State women’s basketball team got a 27-point performance from the bench on the way to a 72-58 victory over the Valley City State Vikings at home Tuesday in non-conference action.

The Education Day Game thrilled a crowd of elementary school students from the area, along with Minot State faculty and staff as the Beavers were playing just their second home game this season.

The Beavers (3-8 overall) had three players score in double figures, led by Taylor Goss, who had 21 points. Emily Srejma added 16 points and two steals off the bench and Sydney Gustavsson helped out with 14 points and two steals. Minot State forced 26 Valley City State turnovers while committing 20 themselves in Tuesday’s game. The Beavers turned those takeaways into 24 points on the offensive end of the floor. Srejma’s two steals led the way for Minot State.

Coach’s Comments

“The atmosphere was really good,” Minot State women’s basketball head coach Mike Brandt said. “I think we took advantage of it in the first quarter. We really had a lot of energy, played exceptionally well there; got off to a great lead offensively, played some stellar defense, and I think we kind of shocked them a little bit.”

How It Happened

After jumping out to a 13-5 advantage, Minot State went on a 10-0 run with 5:46 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Maya Aguilar, to increase its lead to 23-5, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Minot State capitalized on six Valley City State turnovers in the period, turning them into seven points on the other end of the floor.

The Beavers maintained their lead in the game’s second frame and entered halftime with a 31-20 edge. Minot State forced six Valley City State turnovers in the period and turned them into two points.

Minot State continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Gustavsson, to expand its lead further to 43-28 with 3:28 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Vikings had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Beavers still entered the fourth quarter with a 51-40 edge. Minot State played well near the basket, scoring 12 of its 20 points in the paint.

Minot State kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run to grow the lead to 70-55 with 43 seconds to go in the contest. The Vikings narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Beavers still cruised the rest of the way for the 72-58 win. Minot State got a boost from its bench in the period, with non-starters scoring 14 of its 21 total points.

Game Notes

– The Beavers held the Vikings to only 29.6 percent shooting from the field.

– The Beavers never trailed after taking a 23-5 first-quarter lead.

– The Minot State bench made an impact by scoring 27 points to its scoring output.

– The Minot State defense forced 26 turnovers.

– Taylor Goss led the Beavers with a game-high 21 points.

– Minot State got a team-high six rebounds from Lorelei McIver.