BOX SCORE
ST.PAUL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's basketball team (2-6, 1-3 NSIC) couldn't overcome its own turnovers while falling to Concordia Unviersity, St. Paul (3-5, 2-2 NSIC) 68-52 this afternoon at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul.
The Mustangs turned the ball over a season-high 24 times against the Golden Bears tonight who used a full-court press most of the night and kept the Mustangs out of system.
Laura Kramer got into foul trouble early this afternoon and found herself into early trouble picking up her second personal foul just five minutes into the game. Kramer came out on fire in the second half and finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. It marked the third game this season Kramer has picked up double-digits in rebounds. Kramer finished just shy of her sixth career double-double grabbing nine rebounds.
Abby Kenealy got the Mustangs on the board first after almost two minutes of scoreless basketball. Kenealy hit a 3-pointer at 18:18 to put SMSU up 3-0. The Mustangs couldn't hang on to the ball early committing eight turnovers giving the CU all of its 10 points off of SMSU turnovers and taking a 10-4 lead over SMSU.
After scoring the first basket of the game the Mustangs would never hold the lead again in the first half. The Golden Bears built up a 16-point lead over the Mustangs at 28-12. SMSU went into halftime trailing 40-21.
The Golden Bears ran a full-court press most of the first half forcing 15 SMSU turnovers which led to 18 points off turnovers for CU in the first half. The Mustangs were 8 of 26 shooting in the first half, good for just 30 percent.
Maurika Hickman led the Golden Bears with 13 points in the first half. She didn't miss a shot in the half going 5 of 5 from the floor. Kenealy led the Mustangs in scoring to start out the game picking up seven points in the first half on 3 of 6 shooting.
Eldridge and Fink both finished with four points each for the Mustangs in the first half. Eldridge added five rebounds leading SMSU in the first half.
The Mustangs came out in the second and started right where they left off, turning the ball over and giving the Golden Bears an easy basket as they took a 42-21 lead.
Kramer found herself in foul trouble early in the game this afternoon. Kramer got on the board early in the second half picking up a big offensive rebound followed by her second bucket. Kramer was fouled on the play and finished the 3-point play to bring the Mustangs within 16.
The offensive boards helped SMSU get back in to the game when Eldridge picked up her seventh rebound of the game and her sixth point when she put home the lay-up to bring the Mustangs within 12 at 42-30.
The Mustangs continued to cut into the Golden Bear lead in the second half. Eldridge brought the Mustangs within seven points at 47-40 with less than nine minutes to play in the game. CU would storm right back two minutes later and push the lead back to 17 with 6:25 to play on a fast break point from Jodi Batzel.
Hickman led the Golden Bears this afternoon with 25 points going 8 of 9 from the floor. Jineen Williams finished with 12 points for SMSU.
Eldridge grabbed a career-high 9 rebounds this afternoon and finished with 10 points, to lead the Mustangs in scoring. The junior just missed her first career double-double at SMSU. Kenealy finished with nine points for the Mustangs.
The Golden Bears finished the game scoring 26 points off turnovers, scoring 12 off the fast break. SMSU was 19 of 63 shooting for the game shooting just 30 percent while the Golden Bears were 25 of 58 shooting 43 percent.
Southwest Minnesota State will continue NSIC action next weekend when they travel to Winona State on Friday, Dec. 17 and Upper Iowa on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. both nights.
