ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia Golden Bears women's basketball team (10-7, 6-5 NSIC) swept their weekend home stand with a 63-53 win over Minot State (3-15, 1-11 NSIC) on Saturday night inside the Gangelhoff Center.

Concordia used a strong defensive third quarter holding Minot to just 27.3% shooting for the quarter and then converting on offense to give them their first double-digit lead of the game and their biggest lead of the game.

Anna Schmitt led the way with a game-high 24 points. Mishayla Jones added 14 points, four assists and four steals. Kyrah Fredenburg recorded yet another double-double as she finished with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Beavers were led by Madison Wald who scored a team-high 18 points while going 3-5 from beyond the arc. Kristal Flowers recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Minot would come out of the gate with the hot hand as they built a 7-0 lead just two minutes into the game. CSP would respond with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game. Following the runs by each team, the remainder of the quarter would be back and forth but it would be the Golden Bears who would hold a 15-11 lead after 10 minutes of play.

In the second quarter, Concordia managed to hold a slight lead for just over eight minutes of the quarter. The Beavers continued to fight back and stay within striking distance and with 1:52 left in the half Madison Wald would give Minot State their first lead of the game since they led 7-5 with 6:01 in the first quarter.

The lead for the Beavers would not last long as Anna Schmitt would drain a corner 3-pointer to give CSP the lead back. Concordia would then take a 31-27 lead into the locker room.

Schmitt finished with 14 first half points for the Golden Bears and Jones would add eight first half points. Madison Ward would lead Minot with nine first half points.

Coming out of the intermission, the third quarter belonged to the Golden Bears as they would outscore the Beavers 18-10 in the quarter. CSP would hold a double digit lead for nearly six minutes of the quarter and would reach their biggest lead of the game of 16 at the 1:07 mark after a pair of free-throws by Fredenburg.

The Golden Bears defense was on point in the third quarter as they held Minot to 27.3% shooting for the quarter while also forcing five turnovers.

In the final quarter of play, the Beavers would slowly chip away at Concordia's lead and pull within six with 3:19 left in the game. The momentum would be short lasted as Lauren Shifflett would drain her first 3-pointer of the game on the following possession and then Schmitt would get an easy lay-up giving CSP their double-digit lead back allowing them to come away with the 63-53 win.

Concordia now holds a 5-1 series record against Minot State.

Concordia takes to the road next weekend as they travel to Southwest Minnesota State on Friday Jan. 20 for a 6 pm start. They will follow by traveling to Sioux Falls on Saturday Jan. 21 for a 4 pm start.