MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State women's basketball team outscored the Dickinson State 23-10 in the first quarter, as the Beavers defeated the Blue Hawks 69-43 on Thursday night in the Minot State Dome.

Minot State improves to 2-0 (0-0 NSIC) on the season while the contest was an exhibition for Dickinson State.

Madison Wald led the Beavers with a team-high 18 points and four steals.

Kristal Flowers posted 10 points and six rebounds while Mariah Payne added six points, eight rebounds and four assists.

The Beavers opened the game shooting 47 percent from the floor in the first quarter, including 63 percent from three-point range. MSU limited the Blue Hawks to 18 percent shooting from the field while forcing two turnovers.

Dickinson State started the second quarter with a 12-4 run, trimming the Minot State lead to 27-22. The five-point difference was as close as the Blue Hawks would get as Minot State took a 36-25 lead into halftime.

Minot State outscored DSU 17-7 in the third quarter to take a 53-32 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Beavers went seven of eight from the free throw line and held the Blue Hawks to 17% shooting from the field in the third quarter.

The Beavers opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups by Payne, stretching the Minot State lead to 57-32. MSU outscored the Blue Hawks 16-11 in the fourth quarter while shooting 7 of 17 from the field.

Minot State shot 39 percent from the field, including 36 percent from three-point range while the Blue Hawks were held to 24 percent shooting from the floor.

The Beavers notched a 50-30 advantage in rebounds and forced the Blue Hawks to commit 21 turnovers.

Minot State returns to action next week, as the Beavers play host to Jamestown on Monday, Nov. 20 at 5:30 p.m. in the Minot State Dome.