By Chad Courrier
MANKATO — So far, the Minnesota State women’s basketball team has four victories, all at home, with three Division III opponents and one from the NAIA.
While the Mavericks have benefited from playing four winnable games, the competition gets tougher, beginning this weekend.
“I think it was important for the team to gain some confidence,” coach Pam Gohl said. “We were challenged, and it was good to see how we reacted. We were able to use some different rotations.”
Minnesota State defeated Buena Vista College 91-61 in a nonconference game at Bresnan Arena on Tuesday. The Mavericks have won the first four games for the third straight season and have outscored opponents by about 29.2 points per game.
“I think this has been a good start,” senior center Liz Trauger said. “We have a young team, and we’re inexperienced. And some of these teams (we’ve defeated) have beaten teams in our conference.”
Minnesota State led 10-5 after five minutes and 23-14 at the 10-minute mark. Sarah Wiens had a 3-pointer and breakaway layup as the lead grew to 29-16 with 6 minutes to play in the half.
Buena Vista kept the gap at about 10 until the Mavericks hit six straight, and the margin was 43-30 at halftime.
Trauger led Minnesota State with 10 points, and Jennie Noreen added eight points in the first half. The Mavericks shot just 39.4 percent from the field but made 15 of 16 free throws. Minnesota State also had 18 points off 13 turnovers.
The Mavericks led 50-40 just three minutes into the second half before going on an 18-5 run over the next six minutes, with Tiffany Moe getting two layups and assisting on another by Trauger. The reserves played just as well, building on the lead with the final eight points.
“I think for all the freshmen, getting on the floor in game situations is important,” Gohl said. “Our rebounding was a little better the last couple of games, and our defense is getting there.”
Trauger finished with 17 points, while Noreen had 12 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Wiens and Ali Wilkinson each scored 11 points, and Moe had six points, six assists and three steals.
The Mavericks shot 46.4 percent and made 22 of 26 free throws. Minnesota State was plus-6 in rebounding and had 20 assists against only 12 turnovers. Buena Vista had 24 turnovers.
“I think our depth has been a little surprise,” Trauger said. “We didn’t know how many girls could give us quality minutes, but everybody is contributing.”
Margo Muhlbauer led the Beavers with 20 points, and none of her teammates had more than eight. Buena Vista shot 36.3 percent.
The Mavericks participate in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s Holiday Hoops Fest on Saturday and Sunday at Sioux Falls, S.D. Minnesota State faces Northern State on Saturday and Winona State on Sunday, with both games scheduled for 1 p.m.
Though the games are against Northern Sun opponents, they don’t count as conference games.
“Defensively, we know we have to start better,” Trauger said. “We didn’t shoot it well so then we have to hit the offensive rebounds. We have some things to work on.”
BUENA VISTA 61
Hauswirth 3-5 0-0 8, Kock 1-5 6-6 8, Hilby 2-5 2-3 7, Muhlbauer 8-16 4-5 20, Allen 1-3 0-0 3, Hawhtorne 0-0 0-0 0, Minahan 2-4 0-0 4, Gunn 1-3 1-1 3, Gonzalez 0-1 0-0 0, Wehle 0-2 0-0 0, Hammer 1-7 0-0 2, Sporrer 2-5 1-3 6, Noyes 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 0-1 0-0 0, Riessen 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-58 14-18 61.
MINNESOTA STATE 91
Weber 2-9 2-4 6, Trauger 5-6 6-6 17, Moe 3-9 0-0 6, Barber 1-8 0-0 3, Noreen 5-9 2-2 12, Nygaard 1-2 2-2 5, Christian 0-4 0-0 0, Nelson 3-4 2-2 8, Wiens 5-6 0-0 11, Thiesfeld 3-3 1-2 8, Wilkinson 3-4 5-6 11, Van Klei 0-0 0-0 0, Milczark 0-2 0-0 0, Layman 1-3 2-2 4. Totals: 32-69 22-26 91.
Halftime: Minnesota State 43, Buena Vista 30. 3-point shooting: Buena Vista 5-22 (Hauswirth 2-2, Kock 0-3, Hilby 1-2, Muhlbauer 0-3, Allen 1-3, Minahan 0-1, Gunn 0-2, Gonzalez 0-1, Wehle 0-1, Hammer 0-2, Sporrer 1-1, Riessen 0-1), Minnesota State 5-15 (Trauger 1-1, Moe 0-2, Barber 1-6, Noreen 0-2, Nygaard 1-2, Wiens 1-1, Thiesfeld 1-1). Rebounds: Buena Vista 37 (Sporrer 7), Minnesota State 43 (Weber 5). Assists: Buena Vista 12 (Muhlbauer 4), Minnesota State 20 (Moe 6). Steals: Buena Vista 3 (Hauswirth, Muhlbauer, Minahan), Minnesota State 13 (Moe 3). Turnovers: Buena Vista 24, Minnesota State 12. Total fouls: Buena Vista 17, Minnesota State 19.
Fouled out: none.
Attendance: 228.
