MINOT, N.D. – The 20-point deficit at the final buzzer doesn't tell the entire story for the Minot State University women's basketball team.
 
The University of Minnesota Crookston won the game 63-43, but had to work hard to get there as they opened the game on a 10 to nothing run only to have the lead reduced to two before halftime.
 
In the third quarter the Beavers gained the lead with a three-point shot from Kori Eurich (G, Jr., Pueblo, Colo.) who led the team with seven points.
 
During the media timeout, with 4:58 remaining in the third quarter the score was back to an even 30-30. After the media break, however, the Golden Eagles went on a nine to two run as the Beavers failed to make a field goal the rest of the quarter.
 
"For three quarters of the game our defense kept us in it when the shots weren't falling," said head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "Eventually they started making their shots."
 
In the fourth quarter Minot State was outscored 24-11 resulting in the final 63-43 outcome. MSU struggled getting their shots to go in as they ended the game with a season-low 23.8 shooting percentage.
 
"I didn't think we chose our shots well," Green Gerding said. "First half we took a lot of poor shots. Part of that was probably adjusting to the zone defense and not handling it very well."
 
Even Savana Kingsbury (F, Sr., Omaha, Neb.) and Alex Haley (G, Jr., Libertyville, Ill.), who normally lead the team with over 12 points averaged each game failed to get more than six points apiece; all six of Kingbury's coming from free throw makes. Kingsbury did, however, tally nine rebounds and four assists to lead the Beavers.
 
Amanda Sansaver (G, Sr., Wolf Point, Mont.) was second on the team in both rebounds (six) and assists (three) while she recorded a team-high two steals.
 
Minot State will play again on January 8, at 6 p.m., as it visits Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.