SPEARFISH, S.D. – Minot State University gave up a late run to No. 5 Black Hills State and couldn't recover as the Yellow Jackets outlasted the No. 17 ranked Beavers 80-74 in Dakota Athletic Conference play Saturday at the Donald E. Young Center.

For the second straight night, MSU led a good portion of the contest and for a second straight night, a second half run spelled doom for the Beavers.

“We had our chances to win this game,” said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. “We just fell short. We truly competed hard tonight and feel we have the potential to beat anyone on any given night if we just compete with heart and intensity.”

In Saturday's game, the run came midway through the second half. BHSU turned a six-point deficit into a nine point lead in just over seven minutes.

The Beavers (12-6 overall, 3-4 DAC) battled back, cutting the lead to just two on a steal and layup by Sacarra Molina (So., G, Hinsdale, Mont.) with 1:25 to play in the game.

MSU couldn't get any closer as Black Hills (17-3, 7-0 DAC) nailed its free throws down the stretch. The free throw line was the difference in the game as the Yellow Jackets hit 19 of 25 from the charity stripe, outscoring Minot State 19-5 from the line. BHSU was whistled for just 10 fouls in the entire game.

The Beavers bounced back with a much better offensive effort from its mid-30s percent shooting in a loss to South Dakota Mines, hitting 31 of 57 from the floor and went 7-for-12 on 3s.

“I believe we are coming together as a team,” Green Gerding said. “We are excited to get back to the Dome for eight of our next 10 games.”

But MSU couldn't get enough stops down the stretch again – down the stretch of both halves. The Beavers took a 36-34 lead into the break, but led 36-30 on a Christina Boag (Fr., F, Tamworth, Australia) basket with just over a minute in the first half, but gave up a 4-0 run to end the half.

Kristy Ryan and Keely Krolikowski each scored 19 points to lead the Yellow Jackets, who won their 11th straight game.

Whitney Loftesnes (Sr., G, Velva, N.D.) hit five 3s in the game to lead MSU with 15 points. Boag added 14 points, Kelly Pankratz (Sr., G, Malta, Mont.) had her second solid night in a row off the bench with 13 points and Carly Boag (Fr., F, Tamworth, Australia) had 10 points and six rebounds for the Beavers.

It will be a short turnaround for MSU as they play host to Jamestown College Wednesday at the MSU Dome (5:30 p.m.). The Jimmies moved to 5-2 with a win Saturday and are in second place in the DAC. The Beavers finish the DAC double header with a Sunday match up with Valley City State (4 p.m.) at the Dome.