“Holiday Cheer: Minnesota State Secures Thrilling Victory to Close Out 2024!”

WINONA, Minn. – No. 13 Minnesota State (11-2, 7-0 NSIC) achieved victory in their last match of 2024 on the road against Winona State (7-6, 3-4 NSIC) with a score of 83-69 on Saturday afternoon. The Mavericks commenced the game with the initial 14 points and never lost their lead. Both Natalie Bremer and Ava Stier topped the team in points scored on Saturday, each with 15 points. Bremer registered her third double-double of the season, amassing 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Stier’s 15 points marked a new personal best for the junior. She also contributed eight rebounds, two three-pointers, and two steals during the victory.
 
Destinee Bursch initiated the game with a jumper after a splendid spin maneuver in the post. Shortly after, Bremer intercepted a pass on defense, advancing to the elbow where she executed a jumper to grant the Mavericks a quick 4-0 lead. Following a defensive stop, Bursch nailed a three to extend the lead to seven. Bremer completed a challenging and-one layup, boosting the MSU lead into double digits. After securing a steal on the defensive end, Stier converted a three from the wing, elevating the score to 14-0 before the Warriors finally scored with a three-pointer. Winona State responded with another three following an offensive rebound, trimming the Minnesota State lead back to single digits. The home team secured an easy inside shot, but freshman Lucy Leininger made her first basket of the game with a fantastic drive through the lane. The Mavericks enforced a shot clock violation after a timeout, and Elisabeth Gadient scored with a jumper in the paint. On the subsequent trip down the court, Gadient sank another jumper, this time from outside the arc, to establish a 21-10 advantage. The Warriors responded with a 6-0 run, reducing the deficit to six points for WSU. After 10 minutes of play, the Mavericks led 21-16.
 
Mackenzie Schweim made a deep three-pointer to initiate the second quarter, increasing Minnesota State’s lead to eight. Leininger scored her second bucket of the game, raising the Maverick lead back to double digits at 28-18, and executed another layup, bringing the team to 30 points with 7:45 remaining in the half. The Warriors hit a three to beat the shot clock, but Bremer fought through two WSU defenders for a jumper at the other end, marking her seventh point of the day. Winona State successfully broke the press, and Hailey Markworth netted a floater in the paint to make it 32-23. Adeline Kent made a fast break elbow shot after a steal, eliciting a timeout from Winona State. Bremer stole the ball from a Warrior and freshman post Mallory Czinano scored a layup after grabbing an offensive rebound, pushing the lead to 36-24. Stier recorded her second layup off a Bremer assist, extending the Maverick lead to 40-26. Following a layup from Markworth for the home team, Bremer drove into the paint and made a pull-up jumper to conclude the quarter. Minnesota State led 42-28 at the intermission.
 
Minnesota State shot 47.1% from the field in the first half and converted four three-pointers out of 13 attempts. The team was 6-7 from the free throw line in the first two quarters. The Warriors committed 13 turnovers, leading to 20 points for the Mavericks off those mistakes. Both teams concluded the first half with 17 rebounds and six assists apiece.
 
Bremer was the leading scorer for the team with nine points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the first half. Bursch added seven points from just two shots, contributing two assists as well. Leininger logged six points while both Gadient and Stier netted five each over the 20-minute stretch.
 
As the second half commenced, Bursch drove to the basket utilizing quick dribble maneuvers, completing a layup while being fouled. She sunk the free throw to finalize the and-one play, putting the Mavericks ahead 45-28. After Markworth scored with a layup, Stier launched her second three-pointer of the game, extending the lead to 18. Bremer executed a brilliant pass to Bursch after grabbing her seventh rebound; Bursch netted a layup, reaching 12 points for the day and placing Minnesota State at 50-32. Winona State scored following a timeout, but Gadient answered back with a basket of her own. After a few successful free throws from Minnesota State, the Warriors added a three-pointer and a layup to adjust the score to 55-39 with 4:26 left in the quarter. Leininger intercepted the ball from Winona State off an inbound pass at the sideline and advanced into the lane for a basket. Following five more points from the charity stripe, Gadient made a turnaround jumper to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 66-42. Schweim finished with a layup just 26 seconds before the quarter ended, closing the frame with Minnesota State leading 68-45.
 
Stier scored a jumper just 15 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Olivia Gamoke responded with her second three-pointer of the match to bring the score to 70-48. Stier netted yet another layup on the other end, but Sadie Jarmolowicz completed an and-one layup following a Warrior steal. Following a solid layup from Winona State, Kent made a two-point jumper to set the score at 74-53. Bremer intercepted a pass on defense.and converted the turnover into a quick-break layup, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 21. Even though Winona State finished the game on a 14-7 spree, Minnesota State triumphed with a score of 83-69.
 
In this victory, the Mavericks executed 29-68 from the floor (42.6% FG), 20-27 from the charity stripe (74.1% FT), and succeeded in making five three-pointers. The squad accumulated a total of 44 rebounds, 11 assists, and 14 steals during the match. Minnesota State accumulated 28 points from the Warriors’ 22 turnovers.
 
Bremer and Stier were the standout performers for Minnesota State against the Warriors. Bremer concluded the contest with her third double-double of the 2024-25 season, contributing 15 points and securing 10 rebounds. The junior also recorded three assists and four steals in the victory. Stier matched her scoring with 15 points, along with eight rebounds, two steals, and two successful three-pointers. Her scoring performance marked the highest of her career. Bursch wrapped up the game with 14 points, two assists, and three steals. The freshmen excelled as Gadient finished with nine points, three rebounds, and three assists, while Leininger contributed eight points and had three rebounds, one steal, and the only Maverick block in the victory.
 
Winona State recorded 44.6% shooting from the field (25-56 FG) during the contest and matched the Mavericks in steals, also with 14. Markworth led the team with 14 points on 6-11 shooting and snagged two steals.

“As a unit, we have made significant progress over the last few weeks,” stated Minnesota State head coach Emilee Thiesse. “We are collaborating effectively and making remarkable adjustments throughout the match. I was proud of how our squad maintained focus on executing our plans and didn’t take a break before this game. We defended the ball effectively and truly dominated the boards in the second half. We’re thrilled to carry some positive momentum into this stage of the season!”

 

The Mavericks will have the remainder of 2024 off. The team will resume activity for a pair of away NSIC matches after New Year’s. On Friday, January 3, 2025, Minnesota State is set to face the University of Mary (6-2, 3-2 NSIC) at 5:30 p.m. in the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, N.D. Subsequently, on Saturday, January 4, the Mavericks will compete against the Beavers of Minot State (3-9, 2-3 NSIC) at 3:30 p.m.