MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University overcame a slow start with a solid defensive effort in the second half to pull away from Presentation College in a 78-56 win in nonconference NCAA Division II women's basketball Sunday at the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers led by nine at the break using a 25-13 run to finish the half after the teams were tied 13-13 eight minutes into the contest.

By the 10 minute mark of the second half, the lead had ballooned to 23 points as MSU scored 25 points over the first 9 minutes, 37 seconds of the half.

"We were very sluggish and didn't have much energy," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "Defensively we were just sagging back and trying to guard people rather than turning up the energy and turning up the heat and making them make plays. We talked about that in the locker room at halftime about creating our own energy."

Once Minot State (5-0 overall) got going, the Beavers were able to exploit their height and athleticism advantage. MSU hit 49.2 percent of its shots in the game and had 19 assists on 32 baskets. The Beavers defense allowed just six Presentation College field goals in the second half and forced 18 total turnovers.

"Offensively we're getting the shots that we want, we just need to convert," Green Gerding said. "We missed some easy ones again tonight. Our kids just need to slow down a little bit, focus on their target and finish."

The Beavers continued to get strong play by a trio of guards as Alex Haley (So., G, Libertyville, Ill.) paced MSU with 17 points and five assists. She has 56 points over her past three games. Diondra Denton (So., G, Great Falls, Mont.) chipped in with 15 points and added four rebounds and Sarah Lester (Jr., G, Frechtown, Mont.) added nine points – all in the first half – and eight rebounds.

"I'm really proud of our young kids – Alex Haley, Diondra Denton, Sarah Lester – they've all played really, really well for us," said Green Gerding. "We've had to have them play well. It's nice to see those young kids respond and really step up to the challenge and play well for us."

Minot State won for the eighth-straight time in the Dome dating back to last season and ran its nonconference winning streak to 11 straight games over the past three seasons in the NSIC.

The Saints (1-4), who played the game as an exhibition, got 17 points from Haley Froelich in the loss. She also had three rebounds and two steals. Sydney Larson added 12 points and six rebounds, while Rachel Fuhrmann scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the loss.

Along with the underclassmen guard play for MSU, the Beavers got 10 points, six rebounds and four assists from Katie Hardy (Sr., F, Fairview, N.D.), seven points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals from Morgan Klose (Sr., G, Fairview, N.D.) and eight rebounds and five points from Savana Kingsbury (Jr., F, Omaha, Neb.). Morgan Hunter (R-Fr., G, Invercargill, New Zealand) added eight points in the win.

Minot State will be off until Saturday when it travels south to Bismarck, N.D. for a matchup with NSIC rival University of Mary in the first conference game for both teams. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m.