Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN. - No. 17 Minnesota State, Mankato pulled away from a three-point halftime lead to beat Southwest Minnesota State 74-63 on Saturday in Marshall.  The loss drops SMSU to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC, while MSU improves to 7-0 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC.

Sara Leidall scored a team-high 16 points for SMSU in the loss, while grabbing eight rebounds.  Abby Kenealy and Laura Kramer each scored 10 points.

Alex Andrews hit 9-of-10 shots and scored a game-high 20 points with nine rebounds for MSU.  Joanne Noreen scored 18 points, hitting 8-of-8 from the line.  The Mavericks hit 11-of-14 free throws in the second half.

The Mavericks jumped out to a 26-17 lead, but a jumper by Megan Stadler and an NBA 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down by Tori Fink sparked a 13-7 run to end the first half as MSU led by just three points at the break.  Southwest shot just 38.2 percent in the first half.

Aneshia Starks hit two free throws just 13 second into the second half to cut the lead to one, but MSU went on a 6-0 run midway through the half and a 7-0 run with five minutes left to pull away for the road victory.

For the game, SMSU shot 41.2 percent from the field and just 26.3 percent from the outside, while MSU hit on 45 percent from the field for the game.  The Mavericks also owned a 47-34 rebounding edge.

SMSU travels to Northern State on Friday, Dec. 12.