Box Score MINOT, N.D. – When Minot State University needed a big play, the Beavers turned to senior Sacarra Molina (G, Hinsdale, Mont.).

Or to junior guard Alisha Jones (G, Kileen, Texas).

Or senior Francesca DeAngelis (G, Laguna Niguel, Calif.)

Or Carly Boag (Jr., F, Tamworth, Australia).

The Beavers depth was on display as Minot State won its fourth straight game to start the 2012-13 season, topping Minnesota State-Moorhead 73-57 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Friday at the MSU Dome.

Minot State (4-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC) won its first NSIC home game and pushed is winning streak to four games to start the season.

“This game shows the leadership of our seniors,” said MISU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. “Sacarra made some big plays – I'm real proud of her leadership and her effort. I think the turning point for us was Francesca hitting those two just off the free throw line, that stopped the bleeding for us and it was as great boost for Frannie.”

DeAngelis' back-to-back baskets came on the heels of a layup by MSU-M's Marisa Yernatich with 9:52 to play in the second half, cutting the Beavers' lead to single digits at 52-43. DeAngelis hit the 10-footers for each side of the key, sparking a 13-5 run capped by a Molina 3-pointer to push the lead to 17.

Yernatich's basket was one of just three times the Dragons (4-2, 1-1) cut a 40-26 Minot State halftime lead to single digits.

Minot State held the Dragons to just 29 percent shooting in the first half to build the early cushion. On offense, Molina and Jones were the key players, each scoring 12 in the first half. Jones' points were a plus for Green Gerding, but it was her overall offensive play that her coach noted.

“Speedy (Jones) really played well for us. She had that nice little pull-up jumper, but what she did for us was coming off that screen and finding the open shooters,” Green Gerding said. “She did everything well in the first half. It was nice to see her come out and play like that.”

Jones and Molina were especially important as Boag was again saddled with foul trouble, sitting out much of the first half. She still found a way to score 16 points and finish with five rebounds and three steals in 23 minutes of play.

Yernatich scored 15 points and Megan Strese added 12 points and seven rebounds in the loss. Minot State forced MSU-M into 21 turnovers, outscoring the Dragons 24-7 in points off of turnovers.

Molina netted a career-high 23 points, hitting 9 of 14 shots and 3 of 4 3-pointers. She added eight rebounds, two steals and two assists for the Beavers. Jones finished with 12 points – all in the first half – and four rebounds. Lauren Safranski (Sr., G, Burnsville, Minn.) had a balanced game with seven rebounds, five assists and four points in the win.

Minot State will look to extend the early-season winning streak with a home matchup against Northern State Saturday at 4 p.m.