Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State Mavericks defeated Grand View, 76-71, in their first game of the ninth annual Pepsi Tip-Off tournament at Taylor Center.

The win for the Mavericks marks the fifth victory over Grand View in program history. It also improves MSU's record to 15-3 in the Pepsi Tip-Off and marks the eighth consecutive win in the event.

The Mavericks battled back-in-forth in the first half with the Vikings. There were seven lead changes in the half and the game tied four times. Senior forward Liz Trauger(Livermore, Iowa) sank a three-pointer at 11:35 to earn the Mavericks the highest lead in the first half by six points. MSU scored 12 points in the paint and capitalized on six fast breaks to Grand Views zero. The Mavericks finished the first half leading, 37-34. Leading the Mavericks in the first half were: Trauger with 13 points and four rebounds, sophomore guard  Jennie Noreen (Avon, Minn.) with eight points and four rebounds, and freshman guard Sarah Wiens (Burnsville, Minn.) with eight points.

Continuing the edge-of-your-seat thriller in the second half, there were seven lead changes and five tied scores. The highest lead for the Mavericks came at 13:32 of the second-half with freshman forward Ali Wilkinson (Blue Mounds, Wis.) sinking two free-throw shots, shooting seven-for-eight in free throws. Grand View came within one point with 1:46 left on the clock. Wiens downed a three-pointer to lead the Mavericks by six, with 55 seconds left to play. Grand View tried to fight back, but it wasn't enough for the high-powered Maverick offense.

Minnesota State totalled 43 rebounds, six blocks, and six steals in the game. MSU shot 40 percent from the field goal and 85 percent on free-throws. Leading the Mavericks were: Trauger with 18 points and eight rebounds, Noreen earning 18 points and five assists, and Wilkinson dominating the boards with 10 rebounds.

The Mavericks will take on Waldorf College Saturday at 6 p.m. in Taylor Center.