Mayville, N.D. - A blistering first quarter from Montana Western put Mayville State in an early deficit it couldn't recover from, as the Comets fell 81–60 on Saturday evening at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.

Montana Western opened the contest on a 15–3 run, burying six three-pointers in the opening frame and shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field. The Bulldogs' pace and perimeter pressure set the tone, allowing them to take a 31–18 lead after ten minutes and control the rest of the matchup.

Despite the difficult start, Mayville State showed stretches of toughness, outscoring or narrowly matching Montana Western in multiple spurts and finishing with four players in double figures.

Hannah Stark led the way with a team-high 15 points and eight rebounds, providing steady scoring throughout all four quarters. Laela Jensen and Taylor Hill added 10 points apiece, with Hill knocking down a pair of threes and Jensen distributing six assists. Misti Zempel chipped in eight points and five rebounds, including a strong third quarter that helped keep the Comets within striking distance.

The Bulldogs connected on 11 three-pointers and forced 24 Mayville State turnovers, scoring 23 points off those miscues. 

The Comets held a 35–30 edge on the boards and shot 32 percent from deep, but the Bulldogs' early momentum and turnover advantage proved too much to overcome.

Mayville State will get a much needed break heading into the Thanksgiving weekend and will hit the road December 12th to take on Dakota State in Madison, S.D. The Comets will not return home until January. For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule