The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Women's Basketball team suffered their first MCAC Southern Division loss in falling to M|State Fergus Falls 68-63 on Saturday afternoon in Fergus Falls.

The first quarter was evenly played as neither team led by more than one possesion before settling on a 11-10 lead for Fergus Falls going into the second quarter.

The Spartans opened the second quarter with a 5-0 spurt to pull ahead 16-10.

After two Daron Mainville free throws, the Spartans used a 6-0 run to take a 22-12 lead with five minutes left in the half.

Trailing 27-22 with 3:48 left, the Golden Rams staged a 5-0 spurt of their own with a Mainville field goal and a three-pointer from Rashonna Thomas to tie the score.

But Fergus Falls would use a 7-2 run to take a 34-29 lead before Za'Keea Sa'eed-El hit a 15 foot runner at the buzzer to pull Anoka-Ramsey within 34-31 at halftime.

The Golden Rams shot just 32.4 percent from the field while the Spartans connected on 13 of 21 shots (61.9 percent).

Anoka-Ramsey managed to keep the score close by forcing 13 Spartan turnovers in the first half.

Anoka-Ramsey would take a 38-36 lead with 6:40 left in the third quarter after a Sa'eed-El three-point play.

Fergus Falls cut the deficit to just one at the end of the third period, 45-44.

The Golden Rams took their largest lead of the game at 53-48 after a Chaniya Rogers three-pointer, but a 10-2 Fergus Falls run would give the Spartans the lead at 58-55 with 3:45 left in the game.

The teams would trade baskets over the next two minutes before two Mainville free throws pulled Anoka-Ramsey within 62-61 with 1:41 left.

Fergus Falls would score on their ensuing possession, and following a missed Golden Ram three-pointer, the Spartans would again convert to go ahead by five with 24 seconds remaining.

Mainville scored off a baseline out of bounds play to pull within three points with 12 seconds left.

After a Golden Ram timeout to setup their press, the Spartans got free on a long inbounds pass and made the layup for the final 68-63 margin.

Anoka-Ramsey shot 34.9 percent from the field while the Spartans made 58.6 percent of their shots.

Mainville finished with 20 points.

Sa'eed-El scored 15 points.

The Golden Rams fall to 15-6 overall, 5-1 in the MCAC Southern Division.

Anoka-Ramsey will return to action on Saturday, February 6 when they host Minnesota West at 1:00pm.