MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University women's basketball team began their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season Saturday evening when they travelled to the University of Mary for a 4 p.m. game losing a heartbreaker, 57-56.

"As disapointed as we are with the result of this game, I am equally as excited about how well our bench responded tonight and did everything to give us a chance at the end," MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding said. "This was unfortunately a big lesson for us tonight and is going to help us grow as a team and be very valuable down the road."

The game went back and forth early on as the Beavers held an early 9-8 lead at the 14:28 in the first half mark, but that was the last time Minot State would see themselves on top. The Beavers closed out the half making just three field goals in the final 11:15 and ended the half down 31-23.

Down just eight to begin the second half, the Beavers remained in striking distance but their cold shooting from the field continued early on in the second half. At the under 15-minute media timeout, Minot State was shooting just 21 percent from the field.

U-Mary stretched their lead as high as 15 points at the 16-minute mark, but the Beavers continued to fight their way back into the game.

The Beavers went on a 16-2 run to get within just one at the 10:42, but Minot State was never able to make the breakthrough. The Beavers came within one point four more times down the stretch and tied the game up once, but ultimately, the Marauders proved to be too much.

Morgan Klose (Sr., G, Fairview, N.D.) led the way for the Beavers ending her night with 12 points and seven rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Beavers was Caitlin McLachlan (Fr., F, Stathfieldsaye, Australia) who ended the game with 10 points on an impressive 5-5 shooting.

Christina Boag (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia) played in her first game since suffering an ankle injury earlier in the season and ended the game with five points and one rebound.

Leading the Beavers on the boards was Savana Kingsbury (Jr., F, Omaha, Neb.) who ended with nine rebounds.

"Sarah Lester, Caitlin McLachlan and Morgan Hunter were bright spots offensively off the bench and Savana Kingsbury was terrific on the defensive end," Green Gerding said.

Tonight's loss was the first loss of the season for the Beavers as their overall record moves to 5-1 and they fall to 0-1 in the NSIC. U-Mary improves to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

Minot State will have a full week to regroup before they head on a two-game road trip starting with MSU Moorhead on Friday, Dec. 5.