Box Score MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University raced out to a 26-5 first half lead but still had to fend off the University of Mary as the Beavers topped the Marauders 79-72 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Saturday at the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers (5-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC) raced out to the big lead, taking a 43-26 lead at halftime. U-Mary (2-2, 0-1) roared back to get within one point late in the second half, but never took the lead as Minot State outscored the Marauders by six down the stretch.

"We came out on fire, all our shots were going in and we were in a great flow of the game," said MISU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "Then Mary switched up their defense and it threw us a little out of balance. Our defense really held tough and pulled us though."

It was the NSIC opener for both teams and the second straight season the Beavers have toppled their rivals to the south in the NSIC opening game. MISU won last season 74-73 in Bismarck.

While Minot State scored 43 first-half points, it was the Beavers defense that locked down UM early on. MISU held the Marauders to just nine first-half field goals – and if it wasn't for 5-for-11 shooting on 3-pointers for U-Mary, it might have been over at halftime.

Minot State took a commanding 21-point lead early on off a 3-pointer by Carly Boag (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia) and kept at least a 13-point lead the rest of the way in the half. Boag, Alisha Jones (Sr., G, Killeen, Texas) and Christina Boag (Jr., F, Tamworth, Australia) combined for 32 points for the Beavers at the half.

"I just tried to play for the team and hit my open shots and find my teammates on the court," said Jones, who led the Beavers with 20 points. "The points just happened to end up for me the way they did but most of all it felt really good to get a win."

U-Mary, however, got back into the contest with quick 16-3 run to start the second half and it remained a close game throughout the second. Mary cut it to 46-42 on a Brittney Dietz 3-pointer with 16:11 to play and got to a one-possession game with a pair of free throws by Linda Murray with 9:54 remaining in the game.

But Minot State's Jones and the two Boags countered with 15 of the Beavers' final 17 points to help Minot State pull away.

"I think our defense was solid and stayed solid throughout the game," Green Gerding said. "At times we struggled to execute offensively, but we did what we needed to do to maintain our lead. I also think we did an excellent job at the free throw line where we were 22 of 25 with Speedy Jones going 10 for 11 and really pulling us through down the stretch."

"I pray every time I'm on the free throw line but it felt really good to knock down those shots down the stretch," Jones added. "We just want to be on the top of our conference and be positive toward each other and push each other, and that really helped us out through today's game."

Deitz led four Marauders in double figures with a game-high 24 points. Murray added 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Lindsey Sand and Hannah Larson netted 15 and 10 respectively.
Along with her 20 points, Jones finished three assists, three rebounds and two steals in the game. Carly Boag added 19 points, five rebounds and four steals. Christina Boag finished with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Katie Hardy (Jr., F, Fairview, N.D.) scored 11 points and led the Beavers with eight rebounds. Sarah Lester (So., G, Frenchtown, Mont.) and Morgan Klose (Jr., G, Fairview, N.D.) both hit a pair of 3-pointers as they scored eight and seven points respectively.

"I've been struggling offensively so it was nice getting some good points tonight," Christina Boag said. "We just tried to make sure that we executed and made sure that we kept our defense strong and looked for good open shots. They did a good job of getting through our defense but we made sure they never got the lead."

The Beavers continue their homestand with two more NSIC games Friday and Saturday. MISU takes on Northern State Friday at 6 p.m. and ends seven-straight at the Dome with Minnesota State-Moorhead Saturday at 4 p.m.