MINOT, N.D. – Only three points separated Minot State University and rival University of Mary this year.

It probably feels like much more to the Beavers.

U-Mary hit 21 of 24 free throws and stopped the Beavers on two shots in the final 17 seconds to sweep the Beavers in the season series, winning 68-66 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Friday at the Minot State Dome.

"Our execution was really poor I thought to start the game," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "We didn't do what we needed to do offensively and that really hurt us. We dug ourselves a hole and we had to crawl back out of it."

Minot State (6-5 overall, 1-5 NSIC) had the ball in the final seconds in both games but couldn't convert. MSU had a shot blocked in the waning seconds of the first game in Bismarck in a 57-56 loss and this time had a layup not go and a desperation 3-pointer not carom off to preserve the Marauder win.

"Our execution was poor down the stretch," Green Gerding said. "We missed shots that quite honestly you got to make."

Much like the game in Bismarck, Minot State fell behind by double digits early. The Beavers got back into the game much earlier this time around and took multiple second-half leads, but couldn't shake Marauders (6-6, 4-2).

It became a grind-it-out contest down the stretch.

The Beavers took their final lead, 66-65, on a great post move by Savana Kingsbury (Jr., F, Omaha, Neb.) with 1:17 to play.

But the Marauders answered on the next possession as Sloan Turner put U-Mary up for good with a post move of her own 21 seconds later. Brittney Dietz hit one of two free throws on U-Mary's next possession to give the Beavers a chance for the tie or the win, but MSU couldn't convert.

Dietz led all scorers with 21 points, hitting 8 of 10 free throws and had five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Dani Williams hit two 3-pointers on her way to 11 points in the win.

Minot State had three in double figures paced by Christina Boag's (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia) 17. Morgan Klose (Sr., G, Fairview, N.D.) and Sarah Lester (Jr., G, Frenchtown, Mont.) each scored 11 points. Katie Hardy (Sr., F, Fairview, N.D.) finished with eight points, seven rebounds and two steals in the loss for MSU.

It won't get any easier Saturday as the Beavers finish nonconference play with No. 20 ranked Michigan Tech starting at 4 p.m. in the Dome.