BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Taylor Voss led Southwest Minnesota State to a big win over the University of Minnesota Morris. Voss finished with 17 points as the Mustangs cruised to a 79-59 win over the Cougars. SMSU improves to 1-1 on the season while Minnesota-Morris drops its first game of the season and is now 2-1.

Airelle Eldridge was 6 of 10 from the floor and finished the game with 15 points. She also added four assists and three steals this afternoon. Amber Peterson dished out a career-high 11 assists in 29 minutes of play while adding 5 points.

The Mustangs jumped out to a huge first half lead thanks in part to a 12-0 run to begin the game. SMSU eventually built the lead to 18 leading the Cougars 20-2 at 13:59 in the first half. Eldridge and Kenealy led the Mustangs in scoring each picking up eight first half points. The lead would grow even bigger when Eldridge picked up a layup in the paint to give the Mustangs a 23-point lead at 29-6.

Southwest Minnesota State forced 14 Cougar turnovers in the first half leading to six fast break points. Laura Kramer led to some of those points with five steals in the first half. Kramer finished the game with seven points and seven steals.

Abby Kenealy finished with 13 points for SMSU. The junior also added seven rebounds on the night, four on the offensive side of the court. Kenealy was 5 of 6 from the free throw line. SMSU outscored UMM 30 to 16 in the paint.

The Mustangs would force 10 more turnovers in the second half and scored 33 points off turnovers, scoring 12 points on the fast break. The Mustangs held an 18 point lead at the beginning of the second half. With 12:16 to play in the game the Mustangs pushed the lead to 30 on a free throw by Kenealy.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the floor in the game. The Mustangs were 18 of 26 from behind the free-throw line shooting 69 percent. The Mustangs never trailed in the game and cruised to its first win of the season.

Southwest Minnesota State will pick up play in the Concordia Classic hosted by Concordia University, St. Paul on Friday, Nov. 26 against Michigan Tech at 1 p.m. SMSU will then match-up with Northern Michigan on Saturday at 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.