Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – A balanced Southwest Minnesota State offensive effort keyed a 71-56 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Bemidji State Saturday night in Bemidji, Minn.

The win snapped a five-game losing skid for the Mustangs.

SMSU improves to 11-12 (3-10 NSIC), while BSU drops to 2-18 (0-13 NSIC).

Four players were in double figures for SMSU in the scoring column.  Sara Leidall finished with a team-high 14 points, and Tori Fink, Abby Oakland and Abby Kenealy each had 11 points on the evening.

Oakland also led SMSU on the boards, snagging a team-high seven rebounds.  She also tied teammate Megan Stadler for a game-high seven assists.

Colleen McCay's 15 points and Samantha Baldwin's 10 rebounds and four assists led the Beavers.

BSU drilled a pair of three-pointers to get the Beavers going, countering an early Kramer bucket that started the contest.  That set up a 6-2 lead for the host team that was quickly answered by a put-back and fast break score by the Mustangs to knot the game at 6-6.

The Beavers, however, grabbed a five-point at 13-8 lead behind a third BSU three-pointer and a pair of free-throws.

Leidall tied the game once more, sinking a turnaround jumper at 6:55 to make the score 15-15.  And it was Oakland that gave the Mustangs their first lead since SMSU's opening basket, hitting a three-pointer from the top of the key on the next possession to put the Mustangs up 18-15.

An 11-2 run capped by a Heidi Matzke three-pointer was the answer for the BSU as it took an in-control, seven-point lead with just over three minutes left in the half.

The Mustangs chipped at the deficit though, managing to cut it to just two points at 30-28 at the break.

A turnover-laden Beaver squad committed 18 in the first half but still managed to cling to that two-point lead, much of that due to Sydney Epema's stellar shooting from the outside.  The freshman was three-of-three from behind the arc in the first half, netting 11 points.

The Mustangs, on the other hand, were just 2-of-17 from behind the arc, posting a mere 11.8 percent mark in the category.

Leidall led SMSU with six points in the first half.

A regrouped SMSU ball club took the floor in the second half, using precision shooting to build a ten-point lead six minutes deep.  A pair of buckets in the paint and a Stadler three-pointer sparked the hot start that saw the Mustangs lead at 48-38.

From there the Mustangs would mostly roll, stretching that lead to 11 at 55-44 off a pretty give-and-go finished by Lediall with 8:20 remaining.

The Beavers did manage to get with five points at 55-50 with just under seven minutes remaining, but a Fink-to-Kramer connection down low coupled with a quick Fink three-pointer on SMSU's next possession gave the Mustangs back their ten-point advantage.

The Beavers had a pair of chances to get within five again, but both Baldwin and Heidi Matzke missed free throws that would have put the Beavers there.

Megan Wittkop was solid from the line in the closing minutes, converting five-of-six free throws as the Beavers attempted to foul for the ball.

The Mustangs drained eight free throws in the final minute of play.

SMSU shot 17.4% from behind the arc, hitting just four three pointers all night.  The Mustangs' second half numbers from the field were solid, though, as SMSU was 14-26 for 53.8%.

The Mustangs close this four-game road stand next weekend when they travel to Minnesota State Moorhead and Minnesota, Crookston for a pair of conference games.