BOZEMAN, Mont. – Minot State University nearly climbed all the way back, but a second-half rally fell just short as NCAA Division I Montana State held off the Beavers in exhibition women's basketball Sunday afternoon at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
 
The Bobcats blistered the net in the first half and took an 18 point lead on the first shot of the second half as Alexa Dawkins put Montana State up 64-36.
 
But the Beavers did not go away.
 
Minot State quickly cut the lead to single digits behind two big 3-pointers and a big night by senior Christina Boag (F, Tamworth, Australia). Boag scored eight of her game-high 30 points in the run and Amanda Sansaver (Jr., G, Wolf Point, Mont.) and Morgan Klose (Sr., G, Fairview, Mont.) drilled a 3 each to cut it to 59-50 just five minutes into the second half.
 
It got as close as six a couple times midway through the second half, first off a pair of free throws from Alex Haley (So., G, Libertyville, Ill.) and the final time with two more free throws, this time by Katie Hardy (Sr., F, Fairview, N.D.), but the Beavers couldn't get it closer.
 
Montana State's Jasmine Hommes, Dawkins and Jackie Elliott all had big baskets for the Bobcats late in the game. The trio was a part of a group of five players in double figures for Montana State as Hommes led the Cats with 17, followed by Hannah Caudill with 16 and Kalli Durham with 15. Elliott scored 12 points and Dawkins 11, while Durham added nine rebounds to pace the Bobcats.
 
The Bobcats couldn't keep the pace of their first half shooting, but finished with a respectable 42 percent. Minot State turned it on to finish at 47 percent, but took 20 fewer shots from the floor. A big reason was 26 turnovers for the Beavers.
 
The Beavers only had one player in double figures as Boag had a great all-around game. She finished with 30 points on 13-of-17 shooting and added nine rebounds and three assists. Diondra Denton (So., G, Great Falls, Mont.) finished with eight points off the bench, while Savana Kingsbury (Jr., F, Omaha, Neb.) added seven rebounds, five points and four assists for the Beavers. Sarah Lester (Jr., G, Frenchtown, Mont.) scored six points, while Sansaver, Klose, and Hardy all finished with five.
 
Minot State begins the regular season with a pair of home games next week as the Beavers are scheduled to play host to Valley City State Friday (7 p.m.) and Dickinson State Saturday (7 p.m.) at the MSU Dome.