Mavericks Fall Short Against Northern Michigan

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – The Minnesota State women’s basketball team (1-2) lost to Northern Mich. (2-1) 66-54 on Sunday. MSU shot 16-for-55 from the field and was outrebounded 45-35, including a 15-8 deficit in second-chance points.

Haylee Stokes scored 20 points and made three 3-pointers. Rhyan Holmgren finished with 10 points and converted 8 of 8 free throws. Mallory Czinano posted seven points, seven rebounds and three steals. Brylee Miller added eight points and collected seven rebounds without committing a turnover.

“This was a great weekend for our team,” said Head Coach Emilee Thiesse. “We learned a lot about each other and the importance of making adjustments throughout games. Today, we became a little stagnant offensively and struggled to capitalize against Northern’s physicality. While that’s an area we need to improve, it’s also a great growth opportunity for our team. I love this group’s commitment to bringing energy and effort every day, and I’m excited to see the progress we make as we get back in the gym this week. I expect us to learn from this experience and continue getting better.”

MSU outscored Northern Michigan. 13-12 in the first quarter despite shooting 4 of 17, with a 14-7 rebounding advantage and four steals helping balance seven turnovers. Stokes scored nine of the Mavericks’ 13 points and made two 3-pointers, while the Wildcats recorded four blocks and went 4 for 6 at the free-throw line.

The Wildcats outscored MSU 18-9 in the second quarter, shooting 6 of 16 while the Mavericks went 2 of 12 and 0 of 3 from 3-point range. NMU also held a 15-8 rebounding advantage and a 10-4 edge in points in the paint, while Alyvia Padgett’s late jumper sent MSU into halftime down 30-22.

MSU forced nine Northern Michigan turnovers in the third quarter and used a 6-0 stretch to cut the score to 38-28, but the Wildcats still edged the quarter 16-14. NMU went 3 of 7 from 3-point range and held a 10-5 rebounding advantage, while Stokes scored seven of the Mavericks’ 14 points as the visitors took a 46-36 lead into the fourth.

Northern Michigan outscored MSU 20-18 in the fourth quarter and closed out a 66-54 result, helped by a 13-8 rebounding edge and seven made free throws in the quarter. The Mavericks matched Northern Michigan with six made field goals and held advantages in points in the paint (12-8) and bench scoring (10-3), but went 0 for 3 from 3-point range and 6 for 11 at the line.

Sydney Whitehouse scored 14 points, made three 3-pointers and added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jordyn Schmittdiel finished with 10 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Faith Walder scored 10 points, converting 8 of 10 free throws, and added two steals. Addison Pytleski recorded four steals and added eight points.

Up next, MSU visits UW-Parkside next Monday, at 11:30 a.m. at DeSimone Gymnasium in Kenosha, Wis.