Kari Gibb/MDN MSU seniors Emma Mogen (5) and Katie Aberle (12) - both North Dakota athletes - defend against Northern State in NSIC action on Saturday, February 1, at the MSU Dome.

The Minot State University (MSU) women’s basketball team rallied from an 11-point deficit at 50-39 with 3:00 left in the third quarter to knock off the Northern State Wolves 73-64 at home Saturday, February 1, at the MSU Dome.

The Beavers (8-15, 7-9) had four players score in double figures, led by Sydney Gustavsson, who had 16 points and eight rebounds. Jaime Skeggs tacked on 16 points from the bench and Maya Aguilar helped out with 14 points.

Emma Mogen pulled down four offensive rebounds to pace an offense that racked up second chance opportunities for MSU, grabbing ten boards and turning them into ten second chance points.

The MSU defense held Northern State shooters to just 39.3 percent from the field, including 21.7 percent from three-point range.

After falling behind 10-6, MSU went on a 5-0 run with 5:53 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Mogen, to take an 11-10 lead. The Beavers then surrendered that lead and entered the second quarter down 18-16.

The Beavers continued to lose ground in the second quarter and faced a 35-28 halftime deficit.

Northern State continued to increase its lead after halftime, building a 50-39 advantage before Minot State went on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a three from Aguilar, to trim its deficit to 50-49 with 47 seconds to go in the third.

The Beavers were unable to cut further into the deficit, but did not cede ground to Northern State either and entered the fourth quarter trailing 52-51. MSU’s bench made the most of its minutes in the period, as non-starters totaled eight of the team’s 23 third-quarter points.

MSU managed to gain control and had a 62-60 lead before going on a 5-0 run to grow the lead to 67-60 with 2:39 to go in the contest. The Beavers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 73-64 win.

MSU took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 12 of its 22 points in the paint.

MSU Women 59, Minnesota-Crookston 56

CROOKSTON, Minn. –Sydney Gustavsson and Maya Aguilar combined to score 43 total points – 72.9 percent of MSU’s points – in the Beavers 59-56 victory over the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles on the road.

The Beavers had two players score in double figures, led by Gustavsson, who had 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Aguilar tacked on 15 points and six rebounds and Emma Mogen added seven points, 6 rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

Led by Mogen’s four offensive rebounds, MSU did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 12 boards that resulted in ten second chance points.

MSU’s defense held Minnesota-Crookston to only 32.8 percent shooting from the field, including 24.1 percent from beyond the arc.

After falling behind 8-7, MSU went on a 6-0 run with 6:55 left in the first quarter to take a 13-8 lead. The Beavers then added two points to that lead by the end of the period and entered the quarter break with an 18-11 advantage.

MSU capitalized on five Minnesota-Crookston turnovers in the period, turning them into 5 points on the other end of the floor.

The Beavers maintained their lead in the game’s second frame and entered halftime with a 33-30 edge. Minot State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down 4 three-point shots to account for 12 of its 15 points.

After intermission, MSU held on to its advantage and owned a 47-45 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Minot State knocked down 2 three-pointers in the quarter to score 6 of its 14 total points.

Minnesota-Crookston proceeded to take a 55-49 lead before MSU went on a 10-0 run, finished off by Gustavsson’s jumper, to seize a 59-55 lead with 22 seconds to go in the contest.

The Golden Eagles narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Beavers still held on for the 59-56 win. Minot State pulled down five offensive rebounds to score three second chance points out of 12 total in the period