BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

MINNEAPOLIS  – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball dropped its first exhibition game against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers 75-48 tonight at Williams Arena.

This was the first game on the bench for first-year head coach Allison Kruger.

Junior Airelle Eldridge led the Mustangs against the Golden Gophers with a team-high 16 points and five rebounds while dishing out two assists.

Abby Kenealy hit both her attempts from behind the three-point line to finish with 12 points and five rebounds for SMSU.

The Gophers jumped out to a six point lead before Eldridge picked up the first two buckets for the Mustangs with a field goal and a 3-pointer.

Freshman Bree Holleman cut Minnesota's lead in half with a 3-point jumper off the dribble to make the score 16-9.

SMSU trailed Minnnesota 35-24 at the end of the first half due in part to shooting 40 percent from behind the arc. Southwest Minnesota State was 7 of 27 from the floor in the first half, shooting just 25.9 percent.

The Gophers jumped out to a 14-4 run to start the second half with almost all baskets coming from the paint.

Minnesota shot a game-high 46 percent from the field, while the Mustangs finished shooting 30 percent.

The Mustangs entered the game missing a few key players including seniors Tori Fink and Heather Smith, as well as junior Amber Peterson due to injuries.

SMSU will open regular season play on Nov. 16 when they take on William Penn (Iowa) at home at 7 p.m.