Box Score Jamestown, N.D. - The Comets Women's Basketball team traveled over to Jamestown to battle the Jimmies, who are receiving votes in the national rankings, on Thursday night. Mayville State overcame a slow start and dominated the second and third quarters for a decisive 81-66 victory.

The Comets started ice cold from the floor, as they missed their first 10 shots of the game. Alex Page connected on a three pointer at 4:06 remaining to break the streak and cut the deficit to 9-3.

After the game, assistant coach Claire Blascziek said, "I think we did such a good job of weathering the storm after our first quarter and fighting back to get the lead heading into half time. Out second half we moved the ball well offensively and ended up knocking shots down and rebounding defensively so we could push the ball back the other way."

The Comets defense minimized the damage, as they held Jamestown to 33% shooting during that stretch. The teams played even to finish the first quarter and Jamestown led 19-10.

The Jimmies scored the first four points of the second quarter to bump the lead to 23-10, but that would be the high point in the game for Jamestown as the Comets offense started to rev up.

Mayville State went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to close to within one point at 25-24. Two free throws by Jordan Zrust gave the Comets their first lead of the game at 28-27 with four and a half minutes left in the half.

The lead switched hands multiple times, and a Greta Hillukka trey gave the Comets a slim 35-32 lead into halftime.

"The momentum completely shifted after coming back out from halftime. They played so hard and work together all five on the floor both on offense  and defense to get the job done," commented Blascziek.

Mayville State came out of halftime firing on all cylinders on both ends of the floor. Seven different Comets scored on a 19-3 run to start the third quarter.

Mayville State held Jamestown without a field goal for seven minutes during this critical stretch, and a close contestturned into a 19 point advantage. The teams played even the rest of the quarter and with 10 minutes remaining, the Comets held a 63-45 lead.

Jamestown looked to regain some momentum in the fourth quarter, but the Comets snuffed out any extended Jimmie run by getting to the foul line early and often in the quarter.

In fact, the Comets only made one field goal in the fourth quarter, but maintained their lead by going 15 for 16 from the charity stripe.

Mackenzie Hughes connected on 8 free throws and a 3 pointer in the fourth to keep the Jimmies at bay. Jamestown never got closer than 15 points and Mayville State won going away 81-66.

Blascziek commented, "I think our confidence was high and we got downhill on our drives and were able to find open teammates and we also knocked down our shots especially in the second half."

Mayville State outscored the Jimmies 53-26 in the middle stanzas, and hit 24 of their 26 free throws.

Hughes led all scorers with 24 points, Jes Mertens came off the bench to pour in 17, Page hit four three pointers to finish with 12, and CJ Decker and Jordan Zrust both reached double figures with 10 apiece.

Zrust also pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double, Hughes, Mertens and Taylor Dean notched three assists each and Mertens also collected three steals on the night. 

The win gives the Comets a 3-0 record on the season. Mayville State travels to Orange City, Iowa next weekend for the Northwestern Classic.