Box Score ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minot State University dug itself a deep hole and couldn't fully climb out.

The Beavers hit just seven first-half field goals and trailed 41-19 and never fully recovered as Concordia-St. Paul held off Minot State 68-63 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Friday at the Gangelhoff Center 

It was a battle of teams receiving votes nationally and separated the two teams as both MISU and CSP came into the weekend at 10-4 in NSIC play. Minot State falls to 14-5 overall, snapping a modest two-game winning streak and is 10-5 in conference play, falling two games behind NSIC North Division leader Northern State. The Golden Bears (16-6, 11-4) extended their winning streak to five.

It was a rough final 15 minutes of the first half for the Beavers as they scored just 12 points after taking a 7-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Alisha Jones (Sr., G, Killeen, Texas) four minutes into the half.

But Concordia St. Paul pulled even on a 3 from Anika Whiting a minute later and steadily pulled away from there as the Beavers struggled to just 20.6 percent shooting. Whiting netted 18 of her game-high 28 points in the first half.

But the Beavers didn't go away. Led by a combined 29 points by Jones and Carly Boag (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia), Minot State outscored CSP 44-27 in the second half and cut the lead to single digits on a layup by Jones with just over a minute to play.

The Golden Bears staved off the comeback with four free throws by Rachel Hansen down the stretch to seal the win. Hansen joined Whiting in double figures with 12 points and finished with six assists, while Carissa Wolyniec hit five 3-pointers for 16 points for CSP.

Boag finished with 21 points, 16 rebounds and four steals for the Beavers. Jones added 19 points, four rebounds and four steals and Katie Hardy (Jr., F, Fairview, N.D.) reached double figures with 13 points for the Beavers.

Minot State will need to regroup quickly as they head to No. 24 Minnesota State Saturday for a 4 p.m. NSIC North/South game.