MINOT, N.D. – Northern State showed why it has the No. 1 scoring defense in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The No. 6 ranked Wolves frustrated and suffocated Minot State University all night, finishing off a 66-47 NSIC women's basketball win Friday in front of 1,231 fans at the Minot State Dome.

"I thought we came out sluggish," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "I thought our effort was not very good tonight. I think we can play a lot harder. It was almost embarrassing that we came out so flat and lethargic. I thought our energy was really poor. They're a really good team – you can't come out against a good team and play poorly."

Minot State (7-8 overall, 2-7 NSIC) led 6-0 on a basket by Alex Haley (So., G, Libertyville, Ill.) nearly five minutes into the game, but couldn't generate enough offense throughout.

After NSU scored at the 14:44 mark of the first half, the Wolves (14-1, 8-1) outscored the Beavers 30-16 to the remainder of the half to take a 10-point lead into the break.

"We've got to take more pride in our work – personal responsibility of playing hard, of talking on defense, boxing out, taking our job more serious," Green Gerding said. "I feel like at times we don't come to play. We can't afford to do that. Not in this league."

MSU shot just 15 for 50 in the game for 30 percent and didn't hit a 3-pointer. I could have turned ugly had it not been for solid free-throw shooting as MSU was limited to just five second-half field goals, but scored 15 points from the line.

The Wolves pushed the lead to as many as 23 on a jumper by Kara Hofschild and the closest the Beavers could cut it in the second half was 15 on free throws by Christina Boag (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia) with just over five minutes to play in the game.

NSU's Sadie Stotesbery and Rachel Krogman were a two-person wrecking crew in the first half for the Wolves and each finished with double-doubles. Stotesbery ended with a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds and Krogman finished with 16 points and 11 boards in the win.

Haley was the lone offensive bright spot for the Beavers with 14 points, three rebounds and two s teals. Diondra Denton (So., G, Great Falls, Mont.) and Boag finished with nine apiece, while Boag led the Beavers with five rebounds.

Minot State will look to rebound Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup with Minnesota State University Moorhead at the Dome.