ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul women's basketball team (7-5, 4-4 NSIC), dropped their final game of the 2022 calendar year to seventh ranked Minnesota State (11-1, 7-1 NSIC) on New Years Eve, 84-77.

With the win, the Mavericks secured the season series against the Golden Bears, having won their first matchup on November 22, 91-61. Concordia played a completely different game the second time around, improving their shooting from 32.4 percent to 44.4 percent, their second highest of the season. CSP also controlled the boards, out rebounding Minnesota State 50 to 35. 

The Mavericks aggressive full court press defense was the difference in the game as MSU was able to force 25 Concordia turnovers with 16 steals to outscore CSP 36-15 on points off turnovers. The transition game also belonged to Minnesota State, scoring 22 and limiting the Bears to just seven. 

Ally Gietzel and Megan Gamble led the Golden Bears, with each picking up 19 point, 11 rebound, double-doubles. It was Gietzel's second double of the year and tied her season highs in points and rebounds. The junior wing played a great all around game, rejecting four shots, and dishing out three assists. 

It was the first career double-double for Gamble and career highs for the sophomore in points and rebounds. Gamble was efficient from the field, going 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) and converted on 6-of-8 shots from the foul line. 

The game was back and forth with three ties, six lead changes, and leads of nine points or more for both teams. The first quarter was tight, with both teams getting to the basket and the foul line. The Mavs were a perfect 8-for-8 from the line including two by Destinee Bursch to help MSU close out the first quarter with a five point lead 23-17.

The Golden Bears responded in the second quarter with a 14-0 run, started and ended with baskets by Raegen Alexander. Alexander nearly pulled off her own double-double, scoring a career high 10 points and nine rebounds. The run gave the Golden Bears a short lived seven point lead, 37-30. The Mavericks closed out the half strong with a 9-2 run to tie it up 39-39 at the half. 

The CSP women's shooting was at its best in the third quarter, going 11-for-20 from the field (55 percent), including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. After exchanging layups and free throws, Leah Dengerud sparked the Golden Bears, hitting her second and third 3-pointers of the game to give Concordia a 52-43 lead. A converted three-point play by Gamble, a 3-pointer by Gietzel, and a pullup jumper by Alexander kept the lead at nine to close out the quarter 65-56. 

Another three-point play for Gamble to start the final quarter put Concordia up by 12 points, their biggest lead of the game. The next eight minutes were all Minnesota State, holding the CSP women to just five points over that time and pouring in 26, flipping a 12 point deficit, into a nine point lead. The MSU press took control of the fourth quarter forcing turnovers and bad shots, causing the Bears to shoot 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from the field and 0-for-3 from behind the arc. Minnesota State saved their best shooting for the last quarter, going 8-for-16 from the field (50 percent), and 4-of-6 from long range. Late free-throws by Jadyn Hanson and a layup by Gietzel would close out the scoring for Concordia as the Mavs would go on to win 84-77. 

Concordia-St. Paul will be back in action next week for their first games of 2023 and first couple out of division conference games of the season. It will be a tall task for the Bears as they welcome the top two teams from the North Division. Minnesota Duluth (10-2, 7-0 NSIC) visit St. Paul on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off and St. Cloud State is coming down Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. game.