Box Score WINONA, Minn. – Minot State University's Katie Hardy (Jr., F, Fairview, N.D.) knocked down a pair of free throws with 2.3 seconds remaining to complete a comeback and lift the Beavers to a 60-59 win over Winona State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Saturday at McGown Gymnasium.

The Beavers (11-3 overall, 7-3 NSIC) trailed by as many as 11 in the second half but continued to chip away down the stretch. The Beavers cut the Winona lead to one twice late in the game – once on free throws by Christina Boag (Jr., F, Tamworth, Australia) with 2:53 to play and again on a layup by Alisha Jones (Sr., G, Killeen, Texas) with 42 seconds to go.

"What a great way to end a long road trip," said MISU head coach Sheila Green Gerding. "I'm so proud of our determination and ability to come from behind and get a win."

But unlike multiple other runs the Beavers made in the second half, Winona State (8-6, 4-6) didn't have an answer for the Jones layup. WSU missed a short shot on its end and Morgan Klose (Jr., G, Fairview, N.D.) cleared the rebound, setting up the final play.

On the eventual game winner, Carly Boag (Sr., F, Tamworth, Australia) found a cutting Hardy under the basket and the near 90 percent free throw shooter was fouled with just over two seconds to go.

The aforementioned answers by the Warriors to MISU runs were usually 3-pointers by WSU's Connor Nagel. Nagel led all scorers with 27 points, knocking down 7 of 14 3-pointers in the game and hit some big shots for Winona in the process. But Nagel was held scoreless over the final 9:57 of the game.

"We dug in and fought hard defensively to get back in it tonight. Our kids made plays down the stretch and got stops when we needed to," said Green Gerding.

The Beavers opened the game with a 3-point show of its own, hitting four in the first 12 to take an early 20-18 lead. But the Beavers went on a pair of dry spells to help the Warriors take the double figure lead.

First, MISU scored just six points in the final eight minutes of the first half as WSU led 31-26 at the break. That cold snap also spanned eight minutes without a basket from the end of the first half to the start of the second half. After Sarah Lester's (So., G, Frenchtown, Mont.) bucket with 3:41 to play in the first half, MISU didn't hit another field goal until a Jones layup with 15:28 to play in the game.

Kate Hartman joined Nagle in double figures with 10 and Abby Busch pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with seven points for WSU. The Warriors held a 36-28 advantage on the boards in the contest.

It was another great group effort for MISU on offense as three players hit for double figures and five scored six or more points. Jones led the way with 14 points and five assists, while Christina Boag added 13 points and nine boards. Hardy chipped in with 12 points, three assists and two rebounds. Savana Kingsbury (So., F, Omaha, Neb.) had a solid night off the bench with six points and two rebounds in 16 minutes. Kingsbury, Hardy and both Boags helped the Beavers to a 30-12 advantage in the paint.

Minot State will look to defend its home court for a four-game home stand, starting with Minnesota Duluth Friday (6 p.m.) featuring the university's annual Alumni, Beaver Booster and Fan Appreciation Night.