By Chad Courrier
Free Press Staff Writer
MANKATO — Minnesota State women’s basketball coach Pam Gohl knew that with guard Jennie Noreen slowed by an ankle injury, Lauren Barber would need to produce offensively this weekend.
The sophomore guard responded with a career-high 20 points in Friday’s victory over Minnesota Crookston, then came back with 19 points Saturday as the Mavericks upset Minnesota State-Moorhead 73-56 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at Bresnan Arena.
“She’s been one of our most consistent practice players over the last month,” Gohl said. “She’s continued to stay positive, and sometimes with a shooter, it’s easy to get negative if your shot’s not going in. She’s taken a bigger leadership role, and what you’ve seen on the court is what I’ve seen in practice.”
Barber, who was averaging 6.9 points with only four double-digit scoring games coming into the weekend, was 7 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 7 on 3-pointers against Minnesota Crookston. On Saturday, she made 6 of 12 shots, with five 3-pointers in seven attempts.
“I had a really good week of practice,” Barber said. “My shot was on so I was relaxed and ready to play.
“At the start of the season, I was in a slump. I felt like there was a lot of pressure on me, and I had no confidence. I got it back, so I can let it go.”
Barber helped the Mavericks get off to a quick start, hitting four 3-pointers in the first 13 minutes for a 28-19 lead. The Dragons rallied to within one point, but Sarah Wiens nailed a 3-pointer that allowed Minnesota State to take a 37-32 lead at halftime.
The Mavericks were 7 of 13 from 3-point range, combating a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint by taller Minnesota State-Moorhead (16-6, 10-5 in Northern Sun).
“They have so much size that we knew we wouldn’t be able to just pound it inside to Liz (Trauger),” Gohl said. “We knew we’d have to hit some shots from outside. We still wanted to score down low, but that’s not all we could do.”
Minnesota State used a nine-point run, featuring five points by Ali Wilkinson, to take a 48-36 lead after five minutes of the second half. The Dragons made a run to cut the margin to five with 7:25 remaining, but Barber’s fifth 3-pointer, her first shot of the second half, started the Mavericks toward their third straight victory.
“It was a very satisfying weekend,” Barber said. “We played as a team, and we’re on the way up.”
Trauger finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Wilkinson added 14 points and eight boards.
Minnesota State (13-9, 8-7) plays four of the final five regular-season games on the road, starting Friday at league-leading Concordia-St. Paul. The Mavericks defeated the Bears 79-76 at home Jan. 15.
“We should go into that game with a no-lose attitude,” Gohl said. “Maybe we’re the team that can be a thorn in their side, but it’s going to take a gallant effort to win in their gym.”
MINNESOTA STATE-MOORHEAD 56
Nash-Gerlach 10-18 5-8 25, Rettke 5-12 0-1 10, Opheim 0-1 1-2 1, Mayclin 2-8 2-3 6, Dickson 1-5 0-0 3, Evenson 0-1 0-0 0, Yernatich 1-5 2-4 4, Charette 0-4 0-0 0, Jetvig 3-10 1-1 7, Paulson 0-0 0-0 0, Reisselman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 22-64 11-19 56.
MINNESOTA STATE 73
Weber 3-5 0-0 6, Trauger 5-12 3-4 15, Moe 2-12 3-4 7, Barber 6-12 2-2 19, Wiens 3-7 0-0 7, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Haight 0-1 0-0 0, Noreen 1-2 1-1 3, Thiesfeld 1-2 0-1 2, Wilkinson 5-9 3-3 14. Totals: 26-62 12-15 73.
Halftime: Minnesota State 37, Minnesota State-Moorhead 32. 3-point shooting: Minnesota State-Moorhead 1-11 (Mayclin 0-2, Dickson 1-2, Evenson 0-1, Yernatich 0-3, Charette 0-1, Jetvig 0-2), Minnesota State 9-22 (Trauger 2-6, Moe 0-3, Barber 5-7, Wiens 1-5, Wilkinson 1-1). Rebounds: Minnesota State-Moorhead 46 (Rettke 11), Minnesota State 40 (Trauger 10). Assists: Minnesota State-Moorhead 13 (Opheim 8), Minnesota State 14 (Barber 4). Steals: Minnesota State-Moorhead 4 (Nash-Gerlach, Rettke, Opheim, Mayclin), Minnesota State 6 (Moe, Noreen 2). Turnovers: Minnesota State-Moorhead 10, Minnesota State 9. Total fouls: Minnesota State-Moorhead 11, Minnesota State 16. Fouled out: Minnesota State (Weber).
Attendance: 864.
