Box Score

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - Southwest Minnesota State went on a 12-0 run midway through the second half as the Mustangs rallied to upset No. 12 Delta State (Miss.) 66-51 on Friday at the Disney East Coast Classic in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.  The game was the season opener for both schools.

Delta State went 33-1 last season, losing its only game of the year to South Dakota in the Final Four.

Heidi Kimmes was outstanding for the Mustangs, tying for a game-high 12 points with teammate Sara Leidall, and leading SMSU with seven rebounds and two blocked shots.  She connected on five shots in just six attempts and 2-for-3 from the line.

Leidall also had a good evening, hitting 5-of-10 from the field, while pulling down four rebounds.  A balanced scoring attack saw Tori Fink and Laura Kramer each put up nine points, while freshman Taylor Voss connected on two three-pointers and added eight points.  Transfer Heather Smith had a game-high four assists.  Kramer and Fink also added three steals

A tough Mustang defense held the Lady Statesmen to just 34.0 percent shooting from the field and and forced 18 turnovers.  SMSU also held a 36-32 edge on rebounds.

DSU started off hot, jumping out to a 10-2 lead at 16:51 on Kirsten McBride's second basket of the game.  The Lady Statesmen stretched their lead to 12, taking a 22-10 lead with 9:21 left in the first half.

A three-pointer by Voss cut the lead to 27-20 five minutes later, before a layup by Kramer cut the lead to five.  DSU maintained a five-point lead into the intermission at 32-27.

Both teams played evenly in the first eight minutes of the second half, but a layup by Kimmes with 12:41 cut the Delta State lead to one and sparked a 12-0 run by the Mustangs.  Kimmes scored six points during the run.  After the Lady Statesmen cut the Mustang lead back to four with 7:23 left, Voss answered with her second three of the night.

SMSU stretched its lead out to 11 at 58-47 with four minutes left on a basket by Leidall, and hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final 1:08 to seal the 15-point victory.

The Mustangs will play American International (Mass.) at 4 p.m. CST at the Disney Classic again on Saturday.  Radio broadcast will be on KMHL 1400 AM instead of KARL 105.1 FM due to SMSU football in Marshall.  Fans can tune in online by going to www.MarshallRadio.net.