ABERDEEN, S.D. – Minot State University hit its first shot from the field – a 3-pointer by Haley Hildenbrand – but bookended poor shooting in the first and fourth quarters in a 74-53 loss at Northern State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Friday at Wachs Arena.

The Beavers (2-6 overall, 0-2 NSIC) hit just two more field goals in the first quarter after Hildenbrand's triple to trail 20-13 after one quarter. MSU netted just two baskets in the fourth quarter as well as Northern State limited Minot State to 26.4 percent from the field.

"We competed hard tonight and did a good job of keeping them off the boards," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "But we need to take better care of the basketball and put the ball in the basket. When shots go in, everything else feels better. We will continue to work on our execution as it needs to improve."

MSU had 21 turnovers in the game to hamper the offensive flow. A bright spot on the offense end for Minot State was free throw shooting as the Beavers were 18 for 22 from the line in the game.

The Wolves (5-1, 1-1) started slowly as well, but heated up much quicker. NSU scored 20 in each of the first two quarters to take a 40-26 lead into halftime. Northern State hit half of its first half shots before cooling off late in the game, but still managed to shoot 43.5 percent, hitting 8-of-15 3-pointers.

When Minot State did score, it was mainly with the 3 or a free throw. Half of the Beavers field goals we 3s, including three each by Hildenbrand and Kori Eurich, for 21 points and MSU had another 18 from the line. The Beavers hit just seven two-point field goals.

"Haley had a great all-around game for us," Green Gerding said. "She really competed hard and found ways to score."

MSU outrebounded NSU 15-10 on the offensive glass and tied a good rebounding team 37-37.

Jill Conrad scored a team-high 14 points, while Gabby Laimer added 13 to pace NSU.

Hildenbrand finished with 15 points and three rebounds to lead Minot State. Kristal Flowers earned her first double-double with MSU, scoring 10 points and adding 10 rebounds. Eurich finished with nine points and five rebounds and Kari Clements had a solid all-around game with seven points, six steals, five rebounds and an assist.

The Beavers will finish a short three-game road swing to start NSIC play, traveling to Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday for a scheduled 4 p.m. tipoff.

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.