BOX SCORE
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (2-5, 1-2 NSIC) dropped a heartbreaker to St. Cloud State (5-2, 2-1 NSIC) as the Huskies drained a long 3-pointer as time expired to down the Mustangs. SMSU had won the last three meetings against the SCSU. The Huskies last beat SMSU on January 16, 2009 in St. Cloud.
Abby Kenealy recorded her 30th career double digit scoring game against the Huskies tonight. The junior finished with 19 points leading all players on the court.
Kenealy led the Mustangs in the first half picking up 11 points. Both teams were 12 of 29 shooting in the first half, shooting 41 percent. SMSU was 3 of 10 from behind the arc and 2 of 2 from the free throw line in the first half.
Eldridge started out the first half with four quick points for the Mustangs. After two missed baskets by the Huskies to start out the game, Eldridge gave the Mustangs an early lead driving to the basket for four early points.
With the Mustangs trailing 15-12,
Bree Holleman drilled a 3-pointer off a timeout to tie the game at 15-15 with 9:09 to play in the first half. The Mustangs would grab the lead at 20-18 when Kenealy hit a 3-pointer with 6:49 to play in the half.
The Huskies would regain the lead just a minute later when Sam Price had a 3-pointer trickle in.
Tori Fink would follow that up with a jumper from the paint putting SMSU up 22-21. Christina Steel hit a jumper with 13 second remaining in the first half before
Amber Peterson drained a long 3-point shot of her own as time expired to head into halftime down by one 30-29.
Eldridge and Fink both finished the first half with four points each while
Laura Kramer led the Mustangs grabbing six boards. Fink finished the game with a season-high 16 points.
The Mustangs came out of halftime sluggish as the Huskies jumped out to a seven point lead six minutes into the second half. Holleman would answer back after two buckets by the Mustangs, as she hit a 3-pointer at 12:11 to tied the score 45-45.
The Mustangs were able to push the lead to 51-47 after they forced another SCSU turnover. Kramer grabbed her 11th rebound of the game before putting the Mustangs in front 51-47 with her second basket of the night. This is the second game this season Kramer has hit double-digits in rebounds. She had 11 boards against Northern Michigan on Nov. 27.
St. Cloud State held a three point lead with just under two minutes to play in the game. Kramer came up with a huge steal to give Fink a fast-break. Fink was fouled on the play and hit two free-throws to put the Mustangs within one at 63-62 with 1:13 to play.
SCSU's Amanda Wagner was fouled with 1:01 to play and went 1 for 1 from the line giving the Mustangs the ball ahead by two. Fink then drained a 3-pointer to give the Mustangs a one point 65-64 lead with 49 seconds to play in the game.
Nicole Anderson hit a huge 3-point shot for the Huskies with 26 seconds to play in the game to put SCSU up 67-65. Kramer tied the score 67-67 after a timeout. The Mustangs got the ball to Kramer in the paint and she tied the game with 3 seconds to play.
St. Cloud State's Nicole Anderson put an end to SMSU's excitement draining a long 3-pointer as time expired to win the game 70-67.
Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC play tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Concordia-St. Paul to take on the Golden Bears. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from the Gangelhoff Center.
