No. 21 Minnesota State Mankato Defeats SMSU

Box Score

MANKATO, MINN.: The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs battled with the No. 21 Minnesota State, Mankato Mavericks as the Mustangs held a 28-26 halftime lead but went on to lose 68-56 on Thursday evening in Mankato.

The Mavericks improve to 11-1 overall while the Mustangs fall to 5-6 overall. Minnesota State who has been averaging 92.1 points per game were held to a season low in scoring in the first half of play.

SMSU led by three points twice in the first half. Abby Oakland who finished the game with seven points, hit a jumper with eight minutes remaining in the first half to put the Mustangs up by three, 21-18, and hit another jumper with two minutes remaining before halftime to put SMSU up 27-24.

Three points was the largest lead the Mustangs would have the rest of the game as Minnesota State came out strong in the second half as it started on a 7-0 run to take the lead at 35-28. Two minutes later the Mavericks gained its first double-digit led of the game with the score being 41-30.

With two minutes to go in the second half SMSU cut the lead to 59-54 as Megan Wittkop and Sara Leidall each made layups. Minnesota State, Mankato however was able to hang on as they went on a 9-2 run to finish out the game.

SMSU had just one player record double-figures in points. Leidall led the team with 17 points and was also the team leader with eight rebounds. Wittkop was second on the team with eight points while Oakland added seven. SMSU's Megan Stadler led the Mustangs with five assists.

The Mustangs finished the game shooting 45.8 percent from the field while Minnesota State, Mankato shot 36.7 percent. SMSU however committed 22 turnovers compared to the Mavericks 12. MSU also out-rebounded SMSU 35-34.

Southwest will come back from Christmas break to host Augustana College on Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. in the R/A Facility.

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