Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - Concordia University, St. Paul's Gillian Bjerke netted a team-high 16 points to lead her Golden Bears to a 81-72 conference victory over the Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team Saturday night in Marshall.

CU improves to 16-11 (8-9 NSIC), while SMSU drops to 12-15 (4-13 NSIC).

SMSU had three players in double figures as Sara Leidall finished with 19 points, Tori Fink had 14 and Laura Kramer added 10.

Bjerke was one of four in double figures for the Golden Bears.  Shandrell Duncan also had 12 points, Zoraa Quoie had 11 and Kelly Supernaw had 31-15 with 7:25 left in the first half.

The first six minutes of the contest was relatively quiet, with both squad combining for just four field goals, but the Golden Bears were the first team to get their offense going, building a 16-point lead at 31-15 with 7:25 left in the opening half.

SMSU used a trio of quick three-pointers and a pair of Abby Oakland free throws to start the comeback process.  The Mustangs closed the gap to just five points twice before settling on a seven-point deficit heading into the break.

The lead eventually turned into a double-digit one for CU four minutes into the second half as the Golden Bears went ahead 10 at 49-39 off a Bjerke jumper.

But the Mustangs would again chip away, getting within five with just under 10 minutes remaining.  CU was too much down the stretch for SMSU, not allowing to get the Mustangs to get any closer the rest of the night.

SMSU shot just 60.9 percent from the free throw line.

The Golden Bears trailed just once in the contest, 26 seconds into the game.

SMSU travels to Minnesota State on Saturday for a 6 p.m. conference game.