MINOT, ND -- The Minot State women's basketball team nearly half their points from the bench, which had a 29-point performance in a 62-54 exhibition win against the visiting Dickinson State Blue Hawks at the Minot State Dome on Tuesday.
"We're still in the learning stage," Minot State coach Mike Brandt said. "We're starting to play a little bit harder, but a ways away from where we want to be."
The Beavers (2-3) had three players score in double figures, led by starting point-guard Kate Head, who had 15 points, five assists and five steals. Anna Counts tacked on 11 points off the bench and Natasha Elliott helped out with 10 points from the bench.
Minot State's defense held Dickinson State to only 32.7 percent shooting from the field, including 26.3 percent from beyond the arc. That after Blue Hawks (0-6 overall) started strong and led 13-5 midway through the first quarter.
But the Beavers defense clamped down during a 20-1 run over the next 11 minutes, taking a lead that Minot State never relinquished.
"They responded extremely well on defense," Coach Brandt said, adding, "it's a team that's not use to winning so we have to learn how to win, we have to learn how to maintain our leads."
Shutting down the Blue Hawks offense, and keeping the visitors off the offense glass, helped as Dickson State finished with nine offensive rebounds and managed two second-chance points.
How It Happened
After falling behind 13-5, Minot State went on an 8-0 run with 5:13 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Elliott, to tie the game at 13, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Minot State did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring 10 of its 13 points close to the basket.
Minot State turned the first quarter tie into a 17-14 lead before going on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a three from Head, to increase its lead to 25-14. The Blue Hawks cut into that lead, but the Beavers still enjoyed a 30-26 advantage heading into halftime. Minot State was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three three-point shots to account for nine of its 17 points.
After intermission, Minot State held on to its advantage and owned a 45-43 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Minot State played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 15 points in the paint.
Minot State kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Counts' layup, to grow the lead to 53-46 with 6:11 to go in the contest. The Beavers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 62-54 win. Minot State got up and down the court quickly in the quarter, scoring six fast break points.
Game Notes
» The Beavers held the Blue Hawks to only 32.7 percent shooting from the field.
» Minot State never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
» The Minot State bench came alive by adding 29 points to its scoring output.
» Anna Counts and Natasha Elliott came off the bench to score 11 and 10 points, respectively.
» Minot State had a 34-31 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Minot State defense forced 21 turnovers.
» Kate Head led the Beavers with 15 points.
» Minot State got a game-high eight rebounds from Mollie Wilson.
This article was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.
