Beavers run away from Dakota State

MINOT, N.D. – It was the start Minot State University head coach Sheila Green Gerding was waiting for.

The No. 13 ranked Beavers opened the game on an 18-5 run capped by fine left handed scoop shot by Caroline Folven (C, Jr., Byron, Ill.) as MSU blew out Dakota State 79-60 in Dakota Athletic Conference women’s basketball play Saturday at the MSU Dome.

“We have been kind of waiting for this for a while,” said MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. “It was a good start and it was good to see us clicking on all cylinders. The defense created offense and some shots went in.” The final score was not indicative of how the game went. MSU (7-4 DAC, 18-6 overall) led 40-16 at halftime and cruised much of the second half. In fact, the Beavers had nine players score and all 10 saw action.

“It was great to see on parent’s night to have all the kids get in,” Green Gerding said. “We got a lot of contributions and everybody played well.”

MSU’s MacKenzie Mack (F, Jr., Scranton, N.D.) finished a solid weekend as she scored 20 points – following a 28-point outburst Friday – pulled down five rebounds and added four steals.

The Beavers not only had a solid start, but kept the pressure on going up 38-11 on a Kallie Erickson (G, Jr., Fordville, N.D.) with 2:38 to play. Erickson scored 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc and pulled down four rebounds for the Beavers.

“The coaches have been saying this on the bench – when we get a lead built up – hammer down,” Green Gerding said.

The Lady T’s never made a significant run in the second half but did outscore the Beavers 44-39 in the second.  Lashonda Martin led DaSU with 17 points.

Folven and Ari Hendrix (G, Sr., Ventura, Calif.) scored nine apiece for the Beavers. Hendrix added 10 assists, three steals and two rebounds.