Five MSU Players Hit Double Figures in the Scoring Column in Win over Rocky

Left to right - MacKenzie Mack~Ari Hendrix~Kallie Erickson~Sacarra Molina~Whitney Loftesnes

 

DICKINSON - Minot State University built a big first half lead, weathered a second half run and beat up its second straight Frontier Confer-ence opponent at the Sam Milonovich Classic, topping Rocky Mountain College (Mont.) 76-54 at Dickinson State's Scott Gymnasium Saturday.

The Beavers, who took out Carroll College (Mont.) Friday, got out to a 19-point halftime lead on the Battlin' Bears behind seven 3-pointers.

"I thought we settled down and took better care of the basketball. We got good shots and capitalized on things," said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding on the first half run.

RMC (0-9 overall) made a run early in the second half to cut the lead to eight, but MSU responded to push the lead back to 20 points. The Beavers outscored the Bears 34-31 in the second half.

"It was huge. They made a run and we regrouped to make a run of our own," Green Gerding said.

The Beavers (7-1) had solid offensive balance as six MSU players scored at least nine points. MacKenzie Mack continued stellar early season play with 16 points and 15 rebounds, both game-highs. Ari Hendrix added 12 points, Kallie Erickson 11 points and Sacarra Molina and Whitney Loftesnes 10 each.

"Sacarra has been doing some things behind the scenes and while maybe she hasn't put up big numbers, she has played solid. She continues to grow and grow. Kallie has been shooting the ball well as of late," Green Gerding said. "MacKenzie had a great night. Our posts were playing with some tired legs and to have a game like that is great."

RMC was led by Tana Stewart's 14 points, while Dani Henderson scored 13.

Caroline Folven scored nine first half points and finished with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. The Beavers outrebounded the Bears 41-23 as controlling the board became important with MSU's defense only allowing RMC 37.9 percent shooting.

"The big things is we had a good effort underneath," Green Gerding said. "We forced them into some uncomfortable shots and then needed to box them out. I think it is easier in man-to-man and we played a lot of that the last two nights."

MSU returns home for the start of Dakota Athletic Conference play Friday and Saturday as the Beavers play host to Valley City State and Jamestown College. MSU returns home for the first time since Nov. 7, going 4-1 on an extended road trip.

"We can't wait to get home," Green Gerding said. "Honestly, we felt like we have dropped our bags and wash our stuff and pack them right back up. We are excited to get home and get into conference games and see where this is headed."