MILWAUKEE – The MSOE women's basketball team held Maranatha Baptist without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes and scored the first 16 points of the second half to break open a tight game and defeat Maranatha Baptist 77-47 Thursday evening at the Kern Center.

The Raiders (5-1) hot start at both ends of the court turned a three-point lead into a 19-point advantage over the Sabercats (1-3).

With the win, MSOE continued its school-record start to the season at 5-1. The last time it started 5-1 was 2011-12, when the Raiders began the season 6-1.

Sophomore Holly Denfeld scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead five Raiders in double-figures. Junior Megan Kroll had a strong all-around performance with 10 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds.

Sophomore Margaret Pugh scored 15 points and three steals, sophomore Corrine Sanford had 13 points and senior Marly Trier finished with 10. Sophomore Shaylan Reardon just missed giving the team a sixth player in double-digits, scoring nine points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Emily Hinsenkamp led Maranatha with 11 points before fouling out. Stacy Reinke added eight points and eight rebounds.

The Raiders led 28-25 at halftime, but came out shooting in the second half, scoring the first 16 points to open a 44-25 lead. MBU, which last hit a field goal at 3:32 of the opening period, was held without a field goal until the 12:40 mark when it scored its first points on a three-point play.

Another 10-0 Red & White run put the game further out of reach and the Raiders continued to steadily pull away.

MSOE shot 40.3 percent on the night and got to the free throw line 31 times with 25 makes. Its defense was stellar, limiting the Sabercats to 29.1 percent shooting and forcing 27 turnovers. The Raiders converted those turnovers, including 16 on steals, into 20 points.

The game started with a tight first half that featured 10 lead changes. At one point, the lead changed on nine consecutive baskets. MBU got its biggest lead of the half at 13-11 on a three-point play by Reinke near the midway point of the half.

MSOE responded with a 12-2 run to seize the momentum in the game and jump out to a 23-15. Despite not hitting a field goal over the final 3:32 of the opening frame, the visitors were able to close the half on a 10-5 run to make it a three-point game at the break.

The Raiders return to action Saturday at Dominican.