BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State got double-figure scoring efforts from five different players and forced 26 turnovers as the Mustangs defeated Minnesota-Morris 85-57 Thursday night in non-conference action in Marshall.

SMSU wins its third straight game and improves to 6-2, while UMM drops to 5-4.

Abby Kenealy paced the Mustangs with a career-high 19 points.  Her outing was complimented by 16 points from Heather Smith, 12 from Lucia Puchelova and Morgan Hamner and 10 from Tori Fink.

The performances from Puchelova and Hamner were also career highs.

Megan Stadler directed the balanced SMSU offensive attack and was a potent play-maker, dishing out 10 assists--tying a career high.

Miley Hunziker led SMSU with a game-high eight rebounds.

SMSU opened the game on a 24-4 run, creating that 20-point advantage in the opening nine minutes.  The lead only grew for the Mustangs, who took a 41-15 lead into the locker room for halftime.

The lead was due largely in part to a hot shooting performance from the Mustangs, who connected on 48.6 percent of their shots in the first half.  At the break, SMSU already had two players in double figures as Kenealy had 11 points and Puchelova had 10.

The Mustangs forced 17 Cougar turnovers in the opening half, creating 20 points off those UMM mistakes.

SMSU's lead only grew in the second half as the Mustangs quickly moved their advantage to 28 points just two minutes in.  SMSU took its largest lead of the contest with 34 seconds remaining when Kenealy hit a layup to make it 85-52 and give her squad a 33-point advantage.

The Mustangs, whose 85 points was a season high,  last had five players score in double figures on Dec. 19, 2008, also against UMM.

SMSU shot 50 percent from the floor in the win, establishing another season high.

SMSU will host Dakota Wesleyan tomorrow at 7 p.m.