Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team executed a decisive  defensive stop in the final seconds of the game to defeat Northern State 50-49 Saturday night in Marshall in SMSU's final game of the season.

SMSU finishes its 2008-2009 campaign 14-16 (6-14 NSIC); NSU drops to 12-15 (8-12 NSIC) with the loss.

Sara Leidall led all scorers with 15 points for SMSU. Abby Kenealy also added 13 points.

Barondeau's 12 points and game-high 14 rebounds led the Wolves.

SMSU fought off a four-point deficit early in the first half to take a 13-point lead of its own with just under five minutes remaining in the opening half.  NSU managed a 7-2 run to close the half and cut the Mustangs' lead to eight heading into the locker room.

The Mustangs were hot from behind the arc in the first half, connecting on six three-pointers.

NSU chipped away at the single-digit Mustang lead in the second half, finally taking the lead at 45-44 off a three-point play from Krista Radenberg layup with 4:53 remaining.

Three more lead changes occurred in the next two minutes, but the final one stuck for the Mustangs as they went up 48-47 off a Laura Kramer jumper with 3:26 left.  Kramer followed it with another basket to give SMSU a 50-47 advantage.

Leanna Mueller's bucket with 2:11 left made it just a one-point deficit for NSU to conquer.  Neither team managed to score in the next 2:10.

And With the score 50-49 in favor of the Mustangs and just one second remaining in regulation, SMSU's Leidall  turned the ball over deep in the backcourt to the Wolves a chance to hit the go ahead and game winning basket.

On the inbound, NSU's Mikayla Barondeau missed the game's final shot from three-point territory at the left wing.

The win wraps up the season for SMSU, which concluded this year's schedule with two straight wins.