Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn. - A balanced Southwest Minnesota State offensive effort, featuring four players scoring in double figures, helped the Mustangs pull off an upset and defeat St. Cloud State 82-73 Friday night in Marshall.
The conference win came against the Central Region's fifth-ranked team and a ball club that SMSU had been defeated by 76-55 earlier this season.
The victory improves SMSU to 12-14 (4-12 NSIC); SCSU drops to 18-5 (11-5 NSIC).
A foursome clipped the double figure scoring mark for SMSU as
Abby Oakland finished with 20 points,
Sara Leidall with 13,
Laura Kramer with 12 and
Heather Smith with 11.
Kramer also grabbed a game-high 12 points to post her third career and season double-double.
SMSU's
Megan Stadler was just three points short of posting a double-double, finishing with seven points and a career-high 10 assists.
Tori Fink was also just shy of hitting double figures, netting nine points for the Mustangs.
The Huskies had four double figure scorers for themselves as Katie Tacheny finished with 16 points, Talisha Barlow had 15, Rachel Booth posted 11 and Anna Cashman had 11. Booth also had 10 rebounds to post a double-double.
SCSU opened the game in control, taking a five-point lead four minutes into the first half. The Mustangs answered, eventually taking a lead on a layup by Kramer at 11:31.
The Mustangs managed to stretch that lead to as many as 13 twice, settling on that 13-point advantage, capped by an Oakland three-pointer, heading into the locker room.
The 13-point got even larger for SMSU as
Taylor Voss knocked down a three-pointer with 12:28 remaining to give the Mustangs their biggest lead of the night at 22.
The Huskies, however, chipped away, kick starting a 9-2 run with under four minutes remaining to get within seven at 80-73 with 2:10 left. The next two minutes would nearly go scoreless, with only Stadler connecting on a field goal for either team.
The Mustangs shot a season-high 50.8 percent from the field and scored 80 points for the first time since their 105-62 defeat of Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 19.
SMSU hosts Concordia University, St. Paul tomorrow at 6 p.m.
